
11 I mm 











**# 




Glass 
Book_ 


dnzi>i2 


MO 


60P/S 



r— ' 




OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS 



fJi^J . * OF THE 

ational Democratic 

CONVENTION 

Held in Cincinnati, 0., June 22d, 23d, and 24tA, 1880. 



WITH AN APPENDIX 



CONTAINING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL DEMO- 
CRATIC COMMITTEE, THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NOTIFICA- 
TION COMMITTEE IN NEW YORK, AND THE LETTERS 
OF ACCEPTANCE OF GEN. WTNFIELD S. HANCOCK 
AND HON. WILLIAM II. ENGLISH. 



REPORTED FOR THE CONVENTION BY 

EDWARD B. DICKINSON 

< \(/u i,i I St e nog rapher. 



DAYTON, OHIO: 

rBIWFP hi IMF. HMI.Y JOl'RNAI. R..OK A\f> " 

1882, 






^ ' 



JJt/ 










INDEX 



Appendixi 143 

Bayard, Thomas Francis —Nomination of 71-73 

Bishop, R. H. —Nomination of , 133 

Breckinridge, W. C. P.— Address of 120 

Brown, S. E.— Address of 71 

Committees — Appointment of 10 

Committee on Credentials — Appointment of 10 

Committee on Credentials— Adoption of majority report of 51 

Commiitee on Credentials — Majority report presented 25 

Committee on Credentials — Minority report presented 26 

Committee on Credentials — Minority report rejected 49 

Committee on Credentials— Vote on previous question 28 

Committee on Notification — Appointment of 141 

Committee on Notification — Proceedings of 151 

Committee on Permanent Organization — Appointment of 10 

Committee on Permanent Organization— Report presented 21 

Committee on Permanent Organization —Consideration of report post- 
poned 24 

Committee on Permanent Organization— Report adopted b'2 

( 'ommittee on Resolutions— Appointment of 10 

( lommittee on Resolutions -Report of 127 

Committees, vist of— to Hon. S. J. Tilden 156 

Daniel, John W.— Address of 92 

Delegates -List of accredited 5] 

Dougherty, Daniel Address of, nominating Genera] Hancock 85 

English, William H. -Letter of acceptance 165 

English, William H.— Nomination of 131 

English, William II.— Nomination of, made unanimous 137 

English, William H. — Official notification of L55 

Faulkner, Lester B. Address of 11!) 

Fellows, Col. John R. — Address of, in hehalf of majority report 11 

Kellows, Col. John R. -Address of, on the nomination of Hancock 124 

Field, Stephen .J. Nomination of 70 

Goode, John H. — Address of 94 

• .ray, < reorge Ail« I less of VI 

Hampton, Gen. Wade -AddreBS of, on nomination of Bayard 86 

Hampton, Gen. Wade — Address of, on nomination of Hancuck 117 

Hancock, Gen. Wintield S.— Letter of acceptance Kil 



iv Index. 

Hancock, Gen. Winfield S. — Nomination of 85 

Hancock, Gen. Winfield S -- Nomination of, made unanimous 118 

Hancock, Gen. Winfield S.— Official notification of 153 

Harris, Leonard A. — Letter presenting bannerets 138 

Hendricks, Thomas A.— Nomination of 76 

Hoadly, George— Address of, as temporary chairman 3 

Hoadly, Gsorge — Address of, on nomination of Hancock 117 

Hubbard, Gov. Richard B. — Address of, in behalf of minority report 37 

Hubbard, Gov. Richard B— Address of 88 

Introd uction v n 

Irish, John P.— Address of, nominating Bishop 133 

Kelly, John— Address of 121 

McElrath, J. E — Address of 69 

Mack, Wm.— Address of 115 

McSweeney, -John— Address of 81 

Marshall, S. S. — Address of, nominating Wm. R. Morrison 71 

Miller, G. W. — Address of, in behalf of minority report 31 

Morrison, Wm. R. — Nomination of 74 

National Democratic Committee — Appointment of 139 

National Democratic Committee— Organization of 143 

National Democratic Committee— Preliminary meeting of xi 

National Democratic Committee— Call for Convention xv 

National Democratic Committee— Executive Committee, appointment of 150 

National Democratic Convention — Adjournment of S. L42 

National Democratic Convention— Proceedings, first day 1 

National Democratic Convention— Proceedings, second day 19 

National Democratic Convention — Proceedings, third day 101 

Parker, Amasa J. — Address of, in behalf of minority report 35 

Peckham, Rufus W. — Address of, in behalf of majority report 46 

Peckham, Rufus W. — Address of, nominating Samuel J. Randall 102 

Permanent Secretaries — List of 22 

Pettus, E. W.— Address of 131 

Platform, the 127 

Presidency, first ballot for 99 

Presidency, second ballot for 1 08 

Randall, Samuel J. — Nomination of 103 

Randall, Samuel J.— Address of 115 

Reading Clerks— List of 22 

Reading Clerks— Appointment of 7 

Resident Committee— Appointment of vvi 

Resolution— According seats to Shakespeare Hall Delegation ~>1 

Resolution — Convention to be a deliberative body 130 

Resolution — Delegates from Territories on National Committee J 38 

Resolution — Preparation of official proceedings 140 

Resolution — Place of holding next Convention 140 

Resolution— Press tickets to editors 12 

Resolution — Great principles of American liberty, etc 130 

Resolution — Deprivation of privileges on account of religious belief 107 



INDEX. V 

Resolution — Representation of Territories (see report Com. on Cred'nt'ls, 23 

And statement from District Columbia and Territories)... 14 

Resolution— Resolutions to be referred without debate 18 

Resolution— Rules to govern Convention S 

Resolution — E mbraced in minority report as to two delegations 26 

Resolution — Surviving soldiers of Mexican war, etc 20 

Resolution — Thanks to permanent chairman 137 

Resolution— Thanks to reading clerks 140 

Resolution — Thanks to temporary chairman 60 

Saltonstall, Le verett — Address of 79 

Sergeant-at- Arms — Appointment of 7 

Stenographer — Appoin tment of 7 

Stevenson, John W. — Address of, on assuming the chair 63 

Stevenson, John W. — Remarks of, on adjourning the Convention 142 

Stringfellow, C. S.— Address of 90 

Taylor, Rev. Dr. Charles— Prayers of 19, 101 

Telegrams read to the Convention 21, 129, 130, 134 

Temporary chairman— Election of 3 

Temporary organization — Completion of 7 

Temporary secretaries— Appointment of 7 

Thanks to resident committee of Cincinnati 140 

Thanks to sergeant-at-arms and assistants 141 

Thurman, Allan G.— Nomination of 81 

Tilden, Samuel J.— Letter of withdrawal 103 

Tilden, Samuel" J.— Visit of committees to, and address of 156-159 

Vice-Presidents— List of 21 

Vi. • .-Presidents — N oniinations tor 1 .",] 

Vilas, Wixi. F.— Address of 136 

Voorhees, Daniel W.— Address of, nominating Thos. A. Hendricks 76 

Voorhees, Daniel W. — On the nomination of Hancock 118 

Voorhees, Daniel W.— On the nomination of English 132 

Wallace, Win. A. — Address of 116 

Wendte, Rev. C. \\'.— Prayer 1 

Westbrooke, 1- . L.— Address of, in behalf of minority report 44 

Woman's Suffrage Association — Memorial of 125 



INTRODUCTION. 



On the second day of June, 1856, in the city of 
Cincinnati, the great Democratic Party of the United 
States assembled its Convention for the purpose of 
nominating a candidate for the Presidency of the 
United States. On that occasion they nominated as 
such candidate a son of the State of Pennsylvania. 
In the November following they elected that candi- 
date to the office for which he had been chosen, and 
he was inaugurated. 

Twenty-five years have passed since then. And 
now, after the lapse of that quarter of a century, again 
in the city of Cincinnati, on the twenty-second day of 
June, 1880, the great Democratic Party of the United 
Slates assembled its Convention, and again nominated 
a son of Pennsylvania for their President. History 
sometimes repeats itself; the omens are propitious. 

Seldom if ever in the history of the country has 
there assembled a more orderly, a more earnest, a 
more harmonious Convention*, or one more determined 
upon the selection of irreproachable candidates — men 
who could be elected — than the one of whose pro- 
ceedings the following' pages are the record. Each ol 
the, seven hundred and thirty-eight Delegates seemed 
imbued with one idea: select the best men wherever 
they can be found, and the Democratic Party will eleel 



viii Introduction. 

them. The nomination of General Hancock and Wil- 
liam H. English was the result, not of sectional com- 
binations, not of political wire-pulling, but seemed to 
be the hearty choice of the Convention. The test 
ballot of the second day gave the Convention an ob- 
jective point. The second ballot for President re- 
sulted in the nomination, afterwards made unanimous, 
of Winfield Scott Hancock, of Pennsylvania, and the 
first ballot for Vice-President, in the unanimous nomi- 
nation of William H. English, of Indiana. 

The Resident Committee of Cincinnati, of which 
Colonel Leonard A. Harris was chairman, to whose 
hands was confided the duty of receiving and enter- 
taining the Delegates from the different States, were 
unremitting in their attentions. This committee was 
divided into sub-committees, to each of which was as- 
signed the duty of earing for the Delegation from 
some particular Slate; and the citizens of Cincinnati 
vied with these committees in their efforts to render 
the visit of the throng of distinguished men from all 
seetions of the country an agreeable and a memora- 
ble one. 

The Music Hall, lofty and spacious in its propor- 
tions, was assigned to the Convention as the place for 
their meetings. With its tasteful chestnut finish, and 
its perfect appointments, its very elegance did not ad- 
mit of very much decoration. Appropriate displays 
of the National colors, and the word " Welcome," 
stretched across the hall, and living plants and flowers 
upon the platform, formed pleasant resting places for the 
eye. The seats allotted to the State Delegations were 
indicated by blue silk bannerets, with gold fringe, 
mounted upon gold spear-head staffs, with the name 



Introduction. ix 

of the States in gold letters, and were arranged so that 
the Delegations were placed directly in front of the 
platform. Upon the platform were the seats of the 
Vice-Presidents and Secretaries of the Convention, 
while on each side of the great organ were seats occu- 
pied by ladies. 

Daring the three days session of the Convention 
the vast hall was filled to overflowing. Ten thousand 
people must have been gathered daily under the Lofty 
roof of the finest Music Hall of the country. To look 
upon that great sea of faces from the platform was a 
sight not soon to be forgotton. And when, at the 
nomination of General Hancock, that mighty audience 
rose to its feet and joined its voice to the trumpet tones 
of the military orchestra ami the tremendous volume 
of sound which came pealing from the full organ, in 
that quaint old anthem, "Should auld acquaintance be 
forgot," the whole edifice seemed to quiver in sympa- 
thetic response to the enthusiastic hosts within its walls. 

The National Democratic Committee were the guests 
of the Resident Committee during their stay in the 
city, and right royally were they entertained. The 
hotels, though taxed almost beyond their capacity by 
the throngs of visitors, were well managed, and their 
guests well cared for. And the members of the Na- 
tional Democratic Convention of 1880, when they ad- 
journed, felt, as they had every reason to feel, gratified 
with their visit to the city of Cincinnati, ami satisfied 
with the work which they had accomplished there. 



Preliminary Proceedings. 



The National Democratic Committee met on the 23d day of 
February, 1880, pursuant to call, in the city of Washington, D. C. ; 
the Chairman, Hon. William H. Barnum, of Connecticut, in the 
Chair. 

All the States were represented. 

The record of the last meeting was read and approved. 

On motion of Mr. Priest, of Missouri, a communication relating 
to the presence of reporters from the Associated Press was re- 
ferred to the Chairman and Secretary. 

Mr. Barnes, of Georgia, for the Committee on Organization, 
appointed at the meeting held on the 2^d of February, 1879, 
made a report in the matter; the same was accepted and the 
committee discharged. 

It was then moved to adopt the report, and, after discussion, 
the motion was carried: 27 ayes, 11 nays. 

The committee to whom was referred the communication of 
the Associated Press recommended that its representatives be 
allowed to be present at this meeting, provided its report be ap- 
proved by the Chairman and Secretary before publication. 

Mr. Me Henry, of Kentucky, moved that the next National 
Democratic Convention be held on the 22d of June next. 

Mr. Priest, of Missouri, moved to amend by substituting the 
16th of June. 

This amendment was lost. 

Mr. Eaton, of Kansas, moved to amend by substituting the 
third Tuesday in May. 

I'll is motion was lost. 

Mr. 1'riest then proposed the 15th of June. 

This motion was lost. 

Mr. Me Henry's motion, that the Convention be held on the 
22d of June, I880j was then adopted: 27 yeas, 10 nays. 



xii Preliminary Proceedings. 

Mr. Eaton offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the different cities competing for the place of 
holding the Convention be heard through one of the Delegates 
from such cities, and that each city be limited to fifteen minutes 
in which to present its claim. 

Mr. Goudy, of Illinois, moved as a substitute the following: 

Resolved, That the Delegations from cities desiring the location 
of the Convention be admitted to the hall, and each city Delega- 
tion be allowed thirty minutes, to be divided among such num- 
ber of persons as each Delegation may select, and the time shall 
not be extended. 

The amendment was lost: 18 yeas, 16 nays. 

Mr. McHenry, of Kentucky, then offered the following resolu- 
tion as an amendment : 

Resolved, That twenty minutes be allowed to hear representa- 
tives desiring to have the Convention held in any city, and that 
not more than three gentlemen be admitted as a delegation from 
any city. 

This resolution was adopted. 

The roll of States was then called, and the following cities 
were proposed as places for holding the Convention : Chicago, 
Baltimore, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Eugene City. Philadelphia, and 
Washington. 

On motion of Mr. Ross, of New Jersey, it was moved to take a 
recess until half past two o'clock. 

This motion was adopted. 



AFTERNOON SESSION 



The committee re-assembled at 2:30 P. M., pursuant to adjourn- 
ment. 

Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania, moved to re-consider the vote by 
which the 22d of June was selected as the time of holding the 
Convention, and that the 15th of June be the day for the same. 

After some discussion Mr. Scott withdrew his motion. 

Mr. Wilson, of Maine, renewed the motion, and Mr. McHenry 
moved that the motion be laid upon the table. 

This motion prevailed. 



Preliminary Proceedings. xiii 

Mr. Campbell, of West Virginia, moved tbat each Delegation 
from the cities wishing to have the Convention held in their 
city, should put their several propositions in writing, and the 
motion was carried. 

Mr. Fuller then advocated the claim of Chicago for the Con- 
vention. The claims of St. Louis and Baltimore were also pre- 
sented. Mr. Taylor presented the claim of Cincinnati, Mr. 
Whittaker that of Eugene City, Mr. Scott that of Philadelphia, 
and Mr. Hutchins that of Washington. 

Mr. Campbell offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That we proceed to ballot for the place in which to 
hold the next National Convention, and that each member of 
the committee deposit his ballot for the place of his choice as his 
State is called; and that it require a majority vote to decide the 
question. 

This resolution was adopted. 

It was then resolved that the first be an informal ballot. 

The roll of the States was called : fourteen votes were cast for 
Cincinnati, ten for Chicago, one for Philadelphia, four for St. 
Louis, two for Baltimore, four for Washington, one for Eugene 
City, and one blank. 

On the formal vote, twenty-four votes were cast for Cincinnati, 
eight for Chicago, four for St. Louis, one for Washington, and 
one blank. 

Mr. Thompson, of Ohio, moved that a committee of seven be 
appointed to make the necessary arrangements for holding the 
Convention. 

This motion was adopted. 

The following gentlemen were appointed to this committee: 

Messrs. Thompson, of Ohio; McHenry, of Kentucky; Bate, of 
Tennessee; Miller, of Nebraska; Ham, of Iowa; Priest, of Mis- 
souri : Goudy, of Illinois. 

On motion, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Barn um, of 
Connecticut, and the Secretary, Mr. Prince, of Massachusetts, 
wrere added to this committee. 

On motion of Mr. Baton, of Kansas, it was resolved that the 
Executive Committee of the National Committee be authorized 
and directed to prepare the call for the Convention. 

A motion was then made to change the time of holding the 
Convention to the loth of .June. 

This motion was lost : 23 nays, 14 ayes. 



xiv Preliminary Proceedings. 

On motion, the offer of George C. Wedderburn, Esq., the editor 
of the Washington Sunday Gazette, in behalf of the stockholders of 
the paper, to give the gratuitous use of its columns, types, presses, 
material, etc., during the Presidential campaign, was accepted, 
and the thanks of the committee were tendered therefor. 

Mr. Scott offered a resolution touching the schism in the Dem- 
ocratic Party in the State of New York, and requesting the 
Executive Committee to take such action as they might deem 
proper, for the restoration of harmony. 

After some discussion the resolution was withdrawn without 
action on the part of the committee. 

On motion of Mr. Ransom, of North Carolina, the thanks of 
the committee were tendered to the proprietor of the hall for its 
use by the committee for the meetings. 

Mr. Campbell, of West Virginia, moved that when the com- 
mittee adjourned it adjourn to meet at Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, 
June 21st, 1880, at 12 o'clock M. 

This motion was adopted. 

The committee then adjourned, as above. 



THE CALL. 



The Executive Committee of the National Democratic Com- 
mittee met at the Arlington Hotel, Washington, on the 24th day 
of February; Hon. William H. Barnum in the Chair. 

There was a full attendance of the members, and they issued 



the following 



OFFICIAL CALL. 



The National Democratic Committee having met in the city of Washing- 
ton on the 23d day of February, 1880, has appointed Tuesday, the 22d day 
of June next, at noon as the time, and chosen the city of Cincinnati as the 
place of holding the National Democratic Convention. 

Each State is entitled to a representation therein equal to double the num- 
ber of its Senators and Representatives in the Congress of the United States. 

All Democratic conservative citizens of the United States, irrespective of 
past political associations and differences, who can unite with us in the effort 
for pure, economical, and constitutional government, are cordially invited 
to join in sending Delegates to the Convention. 

At the last National Democratic Convention, held in the city of St. Louis 
in 1875, the following resolution was adopted : 

Resolved, That the States be requested to instruct their Delegates to the 
Democratic National Convention, to be held in 1880, whether it be desirable 
to continue the two-thirds rule longer in force in the National Conventions, 
and that the National Committee insert such request in the call for the next 
Convention. 



W. H. Forney, Alabama. 
J. I. Sumptek, Arkansas. 
P. McCoppin, California. 
B. M. Hughes, Colorado. 
Wm, H. Barnum, Connecticut. 
II. Hickman, Delaware. 
Wilkinson Call, Florida. 
Geo. T. Barnes, Georgia. 
W. C Goudy, Illinois. 
AUSTIN H. Brown, Indiana 
M. M. Ham, Iowa. 

I. E. Katon, Kansas. 

II. I>. Mc Henry, Kentucky. 
B. F. .Jonas, Louisiana. 
Ed. Wilson, Maine. 

< >. Mousey, Maryland. 
I'. (). I'kinck, Massachusetts. 
E. Kantki;, Michigan. 
W. Loughban, Minnesota. 

FREDERICK 0. PRINCE, Sec'y. 

Washington, D. C, February 24, 1880. 



E. Barksdale, Mississippi. 
J. G. Priest, Missouri. 

G. L. Miller, Nebraska. 
Robebt P. Keating, Nevada. 
A. W. Sulloway, Neiv Hampshire. 
Miles Ross, New Jersey. 

A. S. Hewitt, Ne/w York. 

M. W. Ransom, North Carolina. 
.]. G. Thompson, Ohio. 
John Whittaker, Oregon. 
W. L. Scott, Pennsylvania. 
N. Van Slvok, Rhode Island. 
.J. II. Ryan, South Carolina. 
W. B. Bate, Tennessee. 

F. S. StOCKDALE, Texas. 

B. B. Sm alley, Vermont. 

KOBT. A. COGHILL, Virginia. 

Alex. Campbell, West Virginia. 
W. s. Vilas, Wisconsin. 

WM. II. BARNUM, Ciiaikman. 



xvi The Call. 

The committee then voted to adjourn to meet at the Grand 
Hotel in Cincinnati on Thursday, the 17th of June next, at 12 
o'clock. 



A meeting of the Committee of Nine, appointed by the Na- 
tional Committee at their meeting February 23d, was held at the 
Arlington Hotel on the 24th of February, 1880, and organized 
by the election of John G. Thompson, of Ohio, Chairman, and 
Frederick 0. Prince, of Massachusetts, Secretary. 

All the members were present. 

The following resolution was adopted : 

Resolved, That Colonel L. A. Harris, General H. B. Banning, 
Benjamin Robinson, Colonel C. W. Wooley, John F. Follett, 
Alexander Long, and P. E. Roach, be and they are hereby con- 
stituted the Resident Committee of Cincinnati, under the Na- 
tional Executive Committee, and are authorized to make all 
needful local provisions, and such necessary arrangements as 
shall be required for the convenience of the Convention to be 
held in that city on the 22d of June, 18S0. 

The committee then adjourned to meet at the Grand Hotel, 
Cincinnati, Thursday, June 17th next, at 12 o'clock M. 



National Democratic Convention 



FIRST DAY 



Cincinnati, Ohio, June 22, 1880. 

The Xational Democratic Convention to nominate 
candidates for the offices of President and Vice-Pres- 
ident of the United States, assembled in Music Hall, 
in the City of Cincinnati, this day at 12 o'clock 
M.. pursuant to the call of the National Democratic 
Committee. 

Hon. William H. Barnum, of Connecticut, Chair- 
man of the National Democratic Committee, called 
the Convention to order at 12:38 P. M. in the follow- 
ing words: 

The Convention will be in order. 

The Chair lias the honor to present to this Conven- 
tion. Rev. C. W. Wendte, of Cincinnati, who will 
open the proceedings of the Convention with prayer. 

PRAYER. 

Oh Thou, Who art the Ruler of the Nations and the Arbiter of 
our earthly destinies, bowed in prayer before Thee are the repre- 
sentatives of the freest and happiest Nation on the face of the 
earth. They would reverently acknowledge in Thee the divine 



2 Official Proceedings of .the 

source of all the blessings which have been so abundantly be- 
stowed upon this favored land of our birth or our adoption. The 
land is heaped with plenty, our free institutions make secure 
and glad the life of the citizens. Fountains of knowledge and 
learning spring up on every side, and we enjoy the priceless 
privilege of worshiping Thee according to the dictates of our own 
conscience, with none to molest nor make us afraid. In Thy 
Providence, this young Democracy has become an asylum and a 
refuge for the distressed and downtrodden throughout the world. 
God, Thou hast made our Nation the light and hope of all the 
peoples of the earth ; wilt Thou mercifully continue these bless- 
ings upon us; make us ever mindful of the holy trusts we have 
received from Thee; and may we ever be found obedient and 
faithful to Thy holy law. 

We pray that our Country may go on from day to day in pros- 
perity, and in power, and in knowledge, and in righteousness; 
with unfaltering hand may we erase from the statute book of the 
land every unjust law ; may we purge from our social and political 
body every evil that afflicts us and keeps our people back from 
the highest measure of political virtue, and of happiness and 
peace. And God, we pray especially that all sectional divi- 
sions and differences may cease forever among us; let every root 
of bitterness, let every occasion for interference or for estrange- 
ment be done away, and the American people, forgetting the 
things that are behind, and reaching forth to the things that are 
before, be united together heart and hand, in the bonds of peace- 
ful righteousness and of perpetual love. 

And now, O God, as we enter upon the serious duties of this 
hour and place, and take counsel together concerning the mo- 
mentous interests of the Nation, may Thy divine wisdom 
illumine the minds of this Assembly, that they may act with a 
right understanding and a pure purpose; under Thy divine 
guidance they would lay down the principles of government 
that shall conduct this Nation, founded in justice, into ways of 
enduring prosperity. 

Help them to choose as their leaders in this approaching and 
honorable struggle, in which American freemen engage in an 
honorable rivalry for the high places of the Nation, and for the 
offices of administration, grant unto them that they choose for 
leaders men of large minds and experience, of lofty character 
and of unspotted life ; men true and fearless in the hour of 
trouble, yet ardent lovers of justice and peace. 



National Democratic Convention. 3 

Help us to rise above all the conflicts of selfish ambition, of all 
friendly preferences, or indiscreet party zeal, into the larger sen- 
timent of the public good, of the American nationality and of 
the common brotherhood of man. 0, God, let them remember 
that he serves his party best who best serves Thee : and God, 
we know that no human work can prosper unless Thy divine 
blessing be upon it. We pray therefore that our actions in this 
hour may be pleasing in Thy sight, and that Thou wilt establish 
the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands, establish 
thou it. And to Thee would we ascribe all might and majesty 
and dominion, forever. Amen. 

The Chair: Gentlemen of the Convention: It affords me 
great pleasure to announce to this Convention that by the very 
harmonious action of the National Committee, I have been 
directed to place in nomination for Temporary Chairman of this 
Convention the Hon. George Hoadly. 

The question being put to the Convention. Mr. 
Hoadly was unanimously chosen Temporary Chair- 
man of the Convention. 

The Chair: The Chair appoints Hon. William L. Scott, of 
Pennsylvania, and Hon. H. D. McHenry, of Kentucky, a com- 
mittee to wait upon Mr. Hoadly and conduct him to the Chair. 

The ( Jommittee thus appointed proceeded to conduct 
Mr. Hoadly to the Chair. lh\ Hoadly addressed the 
Convention as follows : 

address of mr. hoadly. 

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the National Democratic 
Executive Committee : I obey the call of the Convention to its 
Chair with grateful acknowledgments of the confidence reposed 
in me; it shall be my sedulous care to prove myself worthy of 
your nomination. 

Fellow-Delegates, Fellow-Democrats, I thank you for your wel- 
come, your generous welcome, which only the strictest impar- 
tiality in the exercise of the power committed to me can justify. 
Such exercise will be my best, my only adequate response to your 
generous welcome. I shall make mistakes, undoubtedly; I trust 
that you will forgive me. I know you will, when once you are 
satisfied that in the discharge of the duty committed to me, for 



4 Official Proceedings of the 

the brief period it is in my hands, while as a Delegate from Ohio 
I am the zealous friend, nay, even the partisan of our favored 
candidate, as your presiding officer I shall know neither friend 
nor foe of any candidate, but devote myself to the discharge of 
my duty with all my powers, with the strictest and most abso- 
lute fairness and fidelity of purpose. Of this you have my pledge. 

Gentlemen of the Convention, our fathers, distrusting popular 
choice, established in each State a College of Electors, to whose 
unpledged action they sought to commit the election of the Chief 
Magistrates of the Republic. Their children, taught by experi- 
ence, have wisely modified the constitutional scheme by an un- 
written amendment which combines and unites the advantages 
of the electoral system with the direct popular vote, while it 
preserves to each State its just weight of influence in the result. 
Conventions of Delegates chosen by the people from two or more 
parties have already presented candidates for popular acceptance 
at the coming election. And now another great college of electors 
is assembled in this hall. Your duties, though not defined by 
law, are of transcendent legal consequence. I need not say that 
in this assembly it will not be doubted that you are not Dele- 
gates from Congressional Districts, but representatives of those 
indestructible units of our indestructible union of American 
States. 

Custom has defined your duties; they are to construct a plat- 
form, and to nominate candidates. But you are not however 
called together here to create a creed, but to apply a known 
principle to present public affairs. The Democratic principle does 
not date its birth from your assembling, and it will not perish 
from the earth with the success or defeat of the candidates you 
nominate. It is eternal, a divine fire burning in the hearts of 
men. It quickens the thought of the statesman, it nerves the 
arm of the soldier, and doubles the energy of the toiler; it is 
found in the Roman precept " suum ruique tribuere" and in the 
self-evident truth of the American patriot that "all men are 
created equal. 1 ' It is the unrelenting foe as well of despotism as 
of communism, whether they are open or sought to be hidden 
under the disguise of paternal government. Its beneficent office 
in political affairs is to secure to every man the utmost possible 
liberty of conduct consistent with equal liberty to every other. 

Yours is not, therefore, the office of invention but of promulga- 
tion ; not to discover but to declare; to apply to the changing 
events of human societies this known principle of Democratic 



National Democratic Convention. 5 

progress. And that this principle may have living force in pub- 
lic concerns, you will nominate candidates whose election will 
ensure its full fruition during the next Presidential term. No 
Democrat doubts that you will worthily perform these duties. 

But you are called to their discharge this day under circum- 
stances of no common moment — circumstances which, may God 
in His mercy grant, shall in the history of our Republic never 
recur! Four years ago, the Democratic party, in Convention 
assembled at St. Louis, announced to the Country its platform, 
and nominated as its candidates two of the foremost statesmen of 
the Nation, both then and now worthy of the most enthusiastic 
' political devotion, and the most ardent private friendship. And 
Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Henrdricks were elected 
President and Vice-President of the United States; as fairly 
elected as was George Washington or James Monroe. That they 
were not inaugurated, that for three years last passed the Chief 
Magistrate of this Nation has been one whom both the people 
and the electors rejected, that in the Executive Department 
"government by the people" has ceased since March 4th, 1877, 
is a living monument, seen now of all men, and to be remem- 
bered in all generations, of the fraud of the Republican party, of 
its infidelity to Republican principles, of its willingness to sacri- 
fice the right of popular election, that " vital principle of Re- 
publics," rather than relax its hold upon power; and of the 
loyalty of the Democratic party even to the forms of law, of its 
trust and confidence that the will of the people must finally pre- 
vail. Abiding in which it patiently waits for the full fruition 
of its hopes until the 4th day of March, 1881 ; but no longer, 
unless defeated at the polls. For while, if fairly beaten, we shall 
submit — I repeat, we shall submit if fairly beaten, and again 
wait; but if again successful, no cunning device of dishonest 
arbitration shall rob us of the fruits of our triumph. The Demo- 
cratic party will never again appear before a Tribunal falselv 
called of justice, a Tribunal deaf to the appeal of testimony, but 
not blind to the beckoning finger of favor. 

But though we failed to inaugurate our candidates, our cause 
was not, even for the moment, wholly lost. Retributive justice 
visited without delay the immediate authors of this infamy. The 
courts of Florida had already thwarted the efforts of the conspira- 
tors who proposed the theft of its State Government, and the 
stern refusal of the Democratic House of Representatives to ap- 
propriate a man or a dollar for the continued subjugation of 



6 Official Proceedings of the 

South Carolina and Louisiana, soon forced the oppressor to relax 
his grasp. No trace now remains of the carpet-bag governments 
of the South except the $170,000,000 of increased public debts 
which, during seven years of mis-government, they contrived to 
heap upon its impoverished people. 

Yes, yes, one other trace remains. Louisiana, entitled by the 
Constitution to two seats in the United States Senate, is repre- 
sented by but one Senator. The seat of the other is filled by a 
delegate from a band of outlaws, never recognized as a Govern- 
ment, long since dispersed, some to fatten on the Federal treasury, 
and some to eat the bread of exile. 

The years that have passed since the theft of the Presidency 
have been years of plenteous harvests. The labor of the hus- 
bandman has reaped a rich reward. " The earth has been tickled 
with the hoe, and has laughed with the harvest." The benison 
of the Most High has been upon our Country, and the oppor- 
tunities afforded by His gracious favor, wisely employed in the 
economies of two successive Democratic Congresses, have made 
possible that partial measure of resumed payment of the national 
floating debt, and that equalization of value called by the Re- 
publican party " the resumption of specie payment." 

But the new prosperities awakened into life by foreign de- 
mand, and the abundant domestic product, were gifts to the 
American people from a higher source than any agency of the 
Republican party. No soldiers kept the peace of the cornfields ; 
no Returning Board canvassed the wheat sheaves ; no Super- 
visors or Deputy Marshals assisted at the gathering into the 
garners ; no Electoral Commission gave its blessing to the har- 
vest. They were the fruits of labor, the gracious gifts of the 
laborer, of Him who is the largest benefactor in society, the 
high priest of the Democratic hierarchy. 

We have been spared one great danger. Since the eighth day 
of June, 1880, it has been certain that the usurper will not be im- 
mediately followed by the monarch. But the third term is post- 
poned, not averted. And the real danger is not so much in the 
third term as in the Republican party, which makes the third 
term possible. Bonaparte did not crown himself Emperor until 
Bonapartism had corrupted France. When more than two-fifths 
of any political party invoke a " Savior of Society," that party is 
already so poisoned with imperialism that its very existence is 
a menace to the Republic, far more formidable than any mischief 
it professes to fear, or any danger it was organized to repel. 






National Democratic Convention. 7 

The remedy, gentlemen of the Convention, for this and for all 
other ills of State, is in Eternal Vigilance ; this is at once the 
price and the protector of Liberty. This vigilance, already 
newly quickened among the people from whom you come, con- 
tinued here and hereafter, will be sure to bring victory to the 
Democratic principle and the Democratic candidates ; a victory 
so full of hope for the Republic that even the " melancholy days 
of November " shall be radiant with joy, and on the wings 
of the stormy winds of March shall be wafted blessings. 

At the conclusion of his address Mr. Hoadly as- 
sumed the Chair of the Convention. 

The Chair: Gentlemen of the Convention: The National 
Executive Committee has a further report to make. 

The following report on the Temporary Organization 
of the Convention was then read by the Secretary : 

TEMPORARY ORGANIZATION. 

Temporary Chairman — Hon. George Hoadly, of Cincinnati, 
Ohio. 

Temporary Secretary — Hon. Frederick 0. Prince, of Boston, 
Massachusetts. 

Assistant Secretaries — George W. Guthrie, of Pennsylvania; 
Charles Ridley, of Tennessee; E. S. Dodd, of Ohio; 0. M. Hall, 
of Minnesota ; A. OrendorfT, of Illinois; William H. Gill, of New 
Jersey; A. C. Parkinson, of Wisconsin. 

Reading Clerks — Neal S. Brown, Jr., U. S. House of Repre- 
sentatives; Mark A. Harden, of Georgia; T. 0. Walker, of Iowa; 
Thomas S, Pettit, House of Representatives ; Nicholas M. Bell, 
of Missouri; James E. Morrison, of New York; H. L. Bryan, of 
Delaware. 

Official Stenographer — Edward B. Dickinson, of New 
York. 

Sergeant-at-Arms — Isaac L. Miller, of Ohio. 

The question being put to the Convention b\ the 
Chair, these appointments were unanimously approved. 

The Chair: The Temporary Organization of the Convention 
is now complete, and the Convention is open for the discharge 
of business. 



s/ 



8 Official Proceedings of the 

George M. Beebe, of New York : Mr. Chairman, I beg 
leave to present the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the rules of the last National Democratic Con- 
vention govern this Body until otherwise ordered. 



The resolution was adopted. 

Mr. E. L. Martin, of Delaware : I move that the States be 
called for the appointment of a Committee on Credentials, a 
Committee on Permanent Organization, and a Committee on 
Resolutions. 

Mr. J. P. Irish, of Iowa: I would suggest to the gentleman 
from Delaware that he include in his motion a Committee on 
Rules as amongst our Committees. 

Mr. Martin, of Delaware : I have no objection to accepting 
the amendment, Mr. Chairman, but I think there is no necessity 
for it at all — for a Committee on Rules ; there is no precedent 
for it, I think, in any National Convention. 

Mr. Irish: If there is no precedent, I withdraw my sugges- 
tion. 

The Chair: The suggestion is withdrawn. 

Mr. Smith M. Weed, of New York : At the last Convention, 
and at all preceding it, the next resolution after the one just 
passed in regard to the rules to govern the Convention, was a 
resolution that the roll of Delegates be called, and that the 
Chairman of each Delegation present to the Convention the 
credentials of the Delegation. It is the only way in which the 
credentials of the members of the different Delegations are 
brought before the Convention. I therefore trust that the gen- 
tleman who made the motion on the other side of the hall will 
give way, and that such a resolution will be adopted. I do 
therefore move that the roll be called, and that the Chairman of 
each Delegation present to this Convention the credentials of 
his Delegation. 

Mr. Martin, of Delaware : There is no necessity for that ; 
the credentials go to the Committee on Credentials, the proper 
party to receive them, and to consider and determine who are 
entitled to seats in this Convention. Upon their report the ques- 
tion will then be brought practically and fairly before the Con- 
vention. 



National Democratic Convention. 9 

Mr. Weed, of New York : I do not wish to rise to a point of 
order, but the simple fact is that this is the way to get those 
credentials officially before the Committee, and the only way. 
They will then come from the Secretary of this Convention to 
the Committee. This has been the universal custom since 1856, 
for I took occasion to examine that question this morning. 

The Chair: Will the Delegate from New York (Mr. Weed) 
permit me to suggest that he make his motion as an independent 
one after the motion of the gentleman from Delaware has been 
disposed of ? 

Several Delegates: It does not make any difference. 

The Chair: I will thank the Delegates securing the attention 
of the Chair to give their names and States ; the banners enable 
me to tell the States with some degree of certainty, but not abso- 
lutely. The names of the Delegates of course I am quite igno- 
rant of. 

Mr. Irish, of Iowa : Before the question is put I desire to 
renew my suggestion as to a Committee on Rules; as I am in- 
formed by gentlemen around me that there are precedents in 
every National Convention, and I understand that the members 
of that Committee have been selected by each State Delegation; 
thus I have precedents to support my suggestion. 

Mr. Martin, of Delaware: I beg the gentleman's pardon; I 
have never known, in an experience of five National Conventions 
of such a Committee being appointed. 

The Chair: It certainly was not so at the last Convention. 
Gentlemen, the question is upon the adoption of the motion of 
the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. Martin, that the roll of the 
Convention be now called for the appointment of Committees on 
Credentials, on Permanent Organization, and on Resolutions. 

The motion was adopted. 

The roll of the States was then called, the Chair- 
man of each State Delegation announcing the names 
of the members from such Delegation to each of the 
three Committees, with the following result: 



10 



Official Proceedings of the 



COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION. 



Alabama — William E. Clarke. 
Arkansas — B. R. Davidson. 
California — Thomas F. Thompson. 
Colorado — John F. Humphreys. 
Connecticut— Owen B. King. 
Delaware— E. L. Martin. 
Florida — T. C. Lanier. 
Georgia — John D. Stewart. 
Illinois— Charles Dunham. 
Indiana— Jos. E. McDonald. 
Iowa— E. D. Fenn. 
Kansas— George C. Rogers. 
Kentucky— William Lindsay. 
Louisiana — G. W. McCranie. 
Maine — Simon S. Brown. 
Maryland — Wilmot Johnson. 
Massachusetts— John P. Sweeney. 
Michigan— Byron G. Stout. 
Minnesota — J. C. Pierce. 



Missouri — Given Campbell. 
Mississippi— R. H. Taylor. 
Nebraska — Jas. Sterling Morton. 
Nevada — George Storey. 
New Hampshire — Irving W. Drew. 
New Jersey — Rufus Blodget. 
New York— John Fox. 
North Carolina— J. S. Henderson, 
Ohio — W. E. Kaynes. 
Oregon— F. P. Hogan. 
Pennsylvania — James B. Reilly. 
Rhode Island— John J. Dempsey. 
South Carolina — F. W. Dawson. 
Tennessee— Wm. H. Carroll. 
Texas— Thomas M. Jack. 
Vermont— L. W. Redington. 
Virginia— William Terry. 
West Virginia — B. F. Harlow. 
Wisconsin — Earl P. Finch. 



COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. 



(I 



Alabama — Joseph F. Johnston. 
Arkansas— J. M. Hudson. 
California— W. P. Frost. 
Colorado— C. Barela. 
Connecticut— Ralph Wheeler. 
Delaware— A. P. Robinson. 
Florida— E. M. L'Engle. 
Georgia— P. M. B. Young. 
Illinois— Perry H. Smith. 
Indiana — William E. Niblack. 
Iowa — Thomas J. Potter. 
Kansas— Edward Carroll. 
Kentucky— J. W. Hays. 
Louisiana — P. Meallie. 
Maine— Arthur Sewall. 
Maryland— L. Victor Baughman. 
Massachusetts —John K. Tarbox. 
Michigan — Isaac E. Mess more. 
Minnesota — H. R. Wells. 



Missouri— W. B. Steele. 
Mississippi— Warren Cowan. 
Nebraska — Jos. W. Pollock. 
Nevada — Mat. Canavan. 
New Hampshire — Hosea W. Parker. 
New Jersey — Lawrence Fell. 
New York— Smith M. Weed. 
North Carolina — Geo. Howard. 
Ohio— R. S. Shields. 
Oregon — A. Noltner. 
Pennsylvania — Wm. H. Sowden. 
Rhode Island— Wm. F. Teston. 
South Carolina — S. Dibble. 
Tennessee — T. M. Jones. 
Texas— B. H. Bassett. 
Vermont— J. H. Williams. 
Virginia— William L. Rezall. 
West Virginia — W. L. Wilson. 
Wisconsin— Jos. Rankin. 



COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. 



Alabama — William H. Barnes. 
Arkansas— B. T. Embry. 
California — Cabel H. Maddox. 
Colorado — C. S. Thomas. 
Connecticut— David A. Wells. 



Delaware — George H. Bates. 
Florida— C. C. Yonge. 
Georgia — Evan P. Howell. 
Illinois— Melville W. Fuller. 
Indiana — John R. Coffroth. 



National Democratic Convention. 11 

Iowa— John P. Irish. New Jersey— C. Meyer Zulick. 

Kansas— John R. Goodin. New York— Rufus W. Peckham. 

Kentucky— Henry Watterson. North Carolina— A. M. Waddell. 

Louisiana— E. A. Burke. Ohio— Thomas J. Kenney. 

Maine— Archibald McNichols. , Oregon— John Mjers. 

Maryland— Charles I. M. Gwinn. Pennsylvania— Lewis C. Cassidy. 



Massachusetts— Chas. L. Woodbury, 
Michigan — Foster Pratt. 
Minnesota — W. W. McNair. 
Missouri — Joseph Pulitzer. 
Mississippi — E. Barksdale. 
Nebraska — George L. Miller. 
Nevada— A. C. Ellis. 
New Hampshire— Harry Bingham. 



Rhode Island— N. Van Slyck. 
South Carolina — Theo. G. Barker. 
Tennessee — John A.McKinney. 
Texas— John Ireland . 
Vermont— Geo. L. Waterman. 
Virginia — James Barbour. 
West Virginia — J. H. Good. 
Wisconsin— Thomas R. Hudd. 



During the call of the roll for the presentation of the 
foregoing Committees, when the State of New York 
was called Mr. John Kelly rose in his seat and at- 
tempted to address the Chair. 

The Chair : The Sergeant-at-Arms will preserve order. The 
Chair can not recognize any but Delegates. The call of the roll 
will proceed. 

Mr. John B. Haskins, of New York, then attempted 
to address the Convention. 

The Chair: The Sergeant-at-Arms will preserve order. Gen- 
tlemen claiming to be Delegates must first be heard. 

The Sergeant-at-Arms compelled Mr. Haskins to 
lake his sent, and the call of the roll was continued. v 

At the termination of the call of the States, the re- 
spective Committees having been announced by the 

Secretary, the following announcement was made: 

The Chair: Gentlemen of the Convention, I have been re- 
quested to announce that Committee rooms are prepared in the 
rear of this hall for the meeting of the three Committees just 
selected, and that they are requested to meet for the purpose of 
organization, and for such other business as they may choose to 
transact, immediately after the adjournment of this Convention. 
The gentleman from New York has a motion which was post- 
poned at my request. 



12 Official Proceedings of the 

Mr. S. M. Weed, of New York : Mr. Chairman, I understand 
that the credentials that were to have been passed up, have been 
passed to the Secretary, and that the Committees are all ap- 
pointed. It seems to me that there is nothing to do but to 
adjourn. I move that we adjourn. 

Mr. Edward Avery, of Massachusetts : I move that when the 
Convention adjourns, it adjourn to meet to-morrow morning at 
10 o'clock. 

Mr. Martin, of Delaware : I move to amend by substituting 
6 o'clock P. M. this evening. 

Mr. W. D. Hill, of Ohio : Mr. Chairman, I offer the following 
resolution — 

The Chair : Is it an amendment to the amendment ? 

Mr. Hill : It is not. 

The Chair : Won't you read it ? 

A Delegate : I move to lay it on the table. 

The Chair : That motion will take everything to the table. 

Mr. Hill then read his resolution, as follows: 

Resolved, That recognizing the great services rendered by the 
Democratic Press in all State and National campaigns, the Secre- 
tary of this Convention is hereby instructed to issue Press tickets 
to all persons who are bona fide Editors of Democratic newspapers, 
who make personal application for the same. 

The Chair : The resolution is not germane. The Chair de- 
cides it to be out of order. The Chair will, by the permission of 
the Convention however, recognize the resolution immediately 
upon the disposal of the matter in hand. 

Mr. Martin : I withdraw my amendment. 

The Chair: The motion is that when the Convention ad- 
journs, it adjourn to meet at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

This motion was adopted unanimously. 

Mr. Hill : I move now my resolution. 

The resolution of Mr. Hill was then re-read. 

The Chair : The question is upon the adoption of the resolu- 
tion proposed by Mr. Hill, of Ohio. 



National Democratic Convention. 13 

Mr. Hill: I am just informed by Mr. Priest, that they are 
prepared to issue tickets to gentlemen of the Press, who make 
application at the hall. 

A Delegate : Withdraw your resolution. 

Mr. Hill: No, I want my resolution passed, to make it 
doubly sure. There is no objection to its passing. 

Mr. WATTERSON v of Kentucky : I hold in my hand an appli- 
cation from the Delegates from the Territories. 

The Chair : It is not germane to the matter in hand ; wait 
until this resolution has been passed upon. 

Mr. Irish, of Iowa: I move that the resolution offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio be referred to the National Executive 
Committee for action. 

This motion was declared lost by the Chair. Upon 
a call for a division, the Chair decided that the mo- 
tion was lost. 

The Chair: The same question recurs upon the adoption of 
the resolution. 

A Delegate from Mississippi : I move to lay the resolution 
on the table. 

The question being put, the Chair said : 

The Chair: The motion is lost. It is not laid on the table. 

Mr. W. L. Scott, of Pennsylvania: I would state for the in- 
formation of this Convention, that the National Committee took 
up this question of representation of the Press on this floor, 
and we have now assigned to the Press of the United States from 
three hundred to four hundred of the best seats in this Conven- 
tion ; and, Sir, if any further concession is made to the Press, it 
has got to be made by driving the public from the hall. 

Mr Hill: There are vacant seats enough in this hall at 
this hour to accommodate every man included in my resolution. 
I ask the Convention to adopt my resolution, and let the Com- 
mittee act upon it. 

The resolution wns lost. 

The Chair : The Delegate from Kentucky, Mr. Watterson, 
has the floor. 



14 Official Proceedings of the 

Mr. Watterson, of Kentucky : Mr. Chairman, I hold in my 
hand an application from the Delegates of the Territories, ask- 
ing for recognition and seats in this Convention, which I desire 
to have referred to the Committee on Permanent Organization, 
with the request of the Convention that it be favorably con- 
sidered. 

The Chair: It will bo so referred, unless there is objection. 

Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, of Missouri : No, no; I protest. 

The Chair: What do you protest against, a reference of the 
resolution to the Committee on Organization ? 

Mr. Pulitzer: Not against the reference, but against the 
balance of the resolution. 

Mr Watterson : I move that it be referred without the ex- 
pression of the Convention, since there is objection. 

The Chair: It will be so referred, unless there be objection. 

The following resolutions were referred to the Com- 
mittee on Resolutions without being read. 

statement of the territorial delegates. 

To thi Chairman and Members of the 

National Democratic Convention of 1880 : 

The undersigned Delegates from the Territories and District of 
Columbia, on behalf of their Democratic fellow-citizens, respect- 
fully ask that they may be accorded the right of representation 
in the National Convention of their party, and be recognized in 
the management of its affairs. 

All their officers being appointed by the National Executive, 
and all their affairs dependent on the Federal Government, they 
are more directly interested in the election of President than any 
other class of citizens. 

In view of the fact that immediately after the coming census 
four or more Territories will have the necessary population to 
come in as States, it is a matter of vital importance to organize 
and maintain the Democratic party in those Territories. This 
it will be impossible to do in face of our non-recognition by the 
party, especially in view of the fact that the Republican party 
has accorded such recognition. The Democrats of the Territories, 
already chafed at what they deem the anti-national attitude of 



National Democratic Convention. 15 

some Democrats in this regard, are opposed to longer maintaining 
an organization not recognized by the party at large. 

We have, against all the power of successive Republican ad- 
ministrations, and all their patronage, not only maintained our 
organization, but dominated the majority of the Territories ; and 
the District of Columbia has, from time immemorial, maintained 
active and efficient Democratic organizations in their midst, and 
furnished substantial aid to the party in State and National 
campaigns. We are certainly entitled to all the aid that our 
party Convention can give. 

The only argument urged against it is that we do not vote. 
In reply we have to say that our influence in favor of the nomi- 
nees of the Convention will be quite as weighty as the votes of 
certain Republican States, which are not likely to give any elect- 
oral votes in favor of the Democratic candidates. 

Conventions, caucuses, and parties themselves are all outside 
of the laws. They are voluntary associations for the advance- 
ment of certain principles of government. Our money, our influ- 
ence, our labors, are as freely given to this as that of others. The 
whole question is simply one of party policy and party manage- 
ment, and in that we claim our share, unless 'you choose to say 
you do not need us now or in the future. That would be bad 
party policy, and blind party management. 

MONTANA. 

Martin Maginnis.... ") _, «..•»« • ^ 

P 1 Al M W If Ik l D e l e 9 ates io National Demo<yratic Convention. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

William Dickson ~) _ , __ . _ _ . _. 

. w -, j- Delegates to National Democratic Convention. 

W. D. Cassin ) ., „ , _ _ 

„ , , „ ,, > Alternates to National. Democratic Convention. 

Robert Ball j 

DAKOTA. 

D W M it ( Delegates to National Democratic Convention. 

UTAH. 



George Q. Cannon 
Andrew 



r "J. Delegates to the U. S. House of Representatives. 



ARIZONA. 

John G. Campbell Delegate to the U. S. House of Representatives. 



16 Official Proceedings of the 

IDAHO. 

George Ainslie Delegate to the U. S. House of Representatives. 

WYOMING. 

w . tt , "" > Delegates to the U. S. House of Representatives. 

RESOLUTIONS. 

The Democracy of the District of Columbia, in Convention 
assembled, having full faith and confidence in the wisdom and 
patriotism of the representatives of the Democratic party to 
meet at Cincinnati in National Convention on the 22d of June, 
and having no voice in the party deliberations, present no can- 
didates for President and Vice-President of the United States, 
but pledge their support to the nominees of the Democratic 
party, in the full faith that they will be fairly elected and duly 
inaugurated. 

We further declare our belief that the District of Columbia 
and the Territories of the United States are entitled to and 
should receive the recognition of the National Democracy, by 
being permitted to share in its councils and in the direction of 
its affairs. The Democracy of the District, since the foundation 
of the party, has been called upon in every campaign to labor 
for the success of its candidates in the several States, Congres- 
sional and National elections, and has always cordially responded. 

We therefore instruct our delegates to use every honorable 
means to secure a representation for the District of Columbia 
in the National Convention, and in the National Democratic 
Committee, and to co-operate with the Delegates from the several 
Territories, in achieving such recognition at the hands of the 
National Democracy for them and for us. 

To the Chairman and Members of the 

National Democratic Convention: 

Your petitioners most respectfully represent that they are 
citizens of the United States residing in the District of Colum- 
bia. 

That by the conditions upon which the cession of the territory 
now comprising the District of Columbia was accepted by the 
United States from Maryland, this people, numbering more than 
one hundred and fifty thousand, are deprived forever of the right 
to vote for any Federal officer whomsoever, though they are as 
profoundly interested in the proper administration of the affairs 



National Democratic Convention. 17 

of the General Government as the citizens of either of the 
States. * 

Your petitioners further represent that by the partiality of 
their Democratic fellow-citizens of said District they were reg- 
ularly chosen to represent them in the present National Dem- 
ocratic Convention, and come duly accredited as such. That 
they, in common with the other Democratic citizens of this Dis- 
trict, have long been affiliated with the Democratic party, and 
true in the allegiance to the principles of that party ; and they 
beg leave to call attention to the fact that they have faithfully 
preserved their organization throughout the many years that 
the Republican party has had control of the General Govern- 
ment, and have not swerved from their faith or duty to their 
party, though the enormous power of patronage of that party 
necessarily exerts a powerful influence in said District. 

That the Republican party has wisely recognized their obli- 
gations to their followers residing in the District, and has allowed 
to them a representation in their National Conventions. Should 
the grand old Democratic party, always distinguished for its 
magnanimity, act with less generosity? 

We therefore most earnestly pray that this Convention will 
accord to their Democratic fellow-citizens of the District of 
Columbia the right of representation and the privilege of par- 
ticipating in its deliberations, in like manner with the delegates 
from the several States, and a representation upon the National 
Democratic Executive Committee. 

William Dickson, 
A. A.. Wilson, 
Delegates to National Democratic Convention. 
W. I). Cassin, 
Robert Ball, 
Alternates to National Democratic Convention. 

Mr, Jacobs, of New York: I move that the Convention do 
now adjourn. 

The Chair: [ will announce that the Press Committee will 
meet at the National Committee Rooms at 5 o'clock this after- 
noon, when all unclaimed tickets will be given to the Press. I 
have already announced that the Committees will meet immedi- 
ately after adjournment. 

The motion to adjourn is withdrawn for the present. The 
Delegate from Connecticut (Mr. David A. Wells) has the floor. 



18 Official Proceedings of the 

The following resolution was offered by Hon. David 
A. Wells, of Connecticut: 

Resolved, That a Committee of one Delegate from each State, 
to be selected by the Delegation thereof, be appointed to report 
resolutions ; and that all resolutions in relation to the platform 
of the Democratic party be referred to said Committee without 
debate. 

The Chair : So much of this resolution as provides for a Com- 
mittee has already been acted upon, and is out of order. 

Mr. Wells : I will strike out that part. 

The Chair : The Delegate from Connecticut offers the follow- 
ing resolution : that all resolutions in relation to the platform of 
the Democratic party be referred to the Committee on Resolutions 
without debate. 

Mr. Prestos, of Kentucky: I move you that the Convention 
do now adjourn. 

The Chair : Let us dispose of this resolution. 

Mr. Preston : I withdraw the motion. 

The resolution was adopted. 

Mr. Jacobs, of New York : I now renew my motion to adjourn. 

The motion to adjourn until 10 o'clock A. M. ? 
Wednesday, June 23d, was carried, and the Conven- 
tion Avas declared adjourned until that time. 



National Democratic Convention. 19 



SECOND DAY. 



Cixcixxati, June 23, 1880. 

Pursuant to adjournment, the Convention met at 
10 o'clock A. M., Wednesday, June 23, 1880. 

The Convention was called to order by the Tem- 
poral*} Chairman, Mr. Hoadly, at 10:40 A. M., as 
follows: 

The Chair : The Convention will rise for prayer. Prayer 
will be offered by Rev. Dr. Charles Taylor, of Cincinnati. 

prayer. 

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, the Sovereign of the 
universe, we acknowledge Thee as our Creator, the Preserver of 
our lives, the Author of all our blessings, the Source of all life, 
and light, and joy. We thank Thee for our being. We bless 
Thee, O God! for this great and goodly land which Thou hast 
given us for a possession. We thank Thee for its teeming pop- 
ulation, for its thriving industries, for its widening commerce, 
for its opportunities and privileges — educational, civil and re- 
ligious. We thank Thee for that form of Government under 
whirh we are permitted to live. May it long be perpetuated by 
the piety and patriotism of the people. We thank Thee, O God, 
that Thou hast permitted us to live under such benign auspices. 
We bless thee for that exalted position that we are permitted to 
occupy as a Nation among the Nations of the earth. May that 
supremacy be continued to us by the proper appreciation of our 
privileges and opportunities, and the glorious destinies in reserve 
for us in the future. We implore Thy blessing, O God, upon 
those who exercise the various functions of Government — 
National, State, and Territorial. May all be divinely guided and 



20 Official Proceedings of the 

controlled for the highest welfare of the people, and for the 
highest good of the race. We implore Thy blessing upon this 
large assembly of representative men from all parts of our land. 
Do Thou imbue them with the spirit of a lofty patriotism and 
strict conscientiousness in duty. Do Thou, Lord, give them 
grace to act as under divine guidance with reference to their 
responsibilities to Thee, to their fellow-men, and to those by 
whose authority they assemble here ; grant, we beseech Thee, O 
God, that harmony and good will, that mutual forbearance, that 
a spirit of conciliation and regard for all the interests committed 
to their care, may direct and guide in all their deliberations. 
We pray, our Father, that all bitterness may be suppressed, and 
that perfect good feeling may prevail, and that there may be a 
spirit of self-sacrifice, of yielding personal preferences for the 
greatest good of all concerned ; and we beseech Thee that all the 
deliberations of this great and important body may result in the 
highest good to the Nation, in conserving the interests of all the 
people : and that we may all be true to ourselves, true to our 
fellow-men, true to the principles by which we profess to be 
governed, true to our Country, and true to our God. And all 
we ask is in the name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for 
whose sake we implore forgiveness of our sins. Amen. 

The Chair: The Convention will come to order. The first 
business of the morning is the reading of the minutes of the 
proceedings of yesterday. The Secretary will read the minutes, 
unless it be the pleasure of the Convention to omit such reading- 

Mr. J. Cosgrove, of Missouri : I move that the reading of the 
minutes be dispensed with. 

This motion was carried. 

Mr. John H. Stotsenburg, of Indiana: I desire to offer the 
following resolution, and ask to have it read and referred to the 
Committee on Resolutions : 

Resolved, That the surviving soldiers of the war with Mexico, 
and the widows and orphan children of such of them as are de- 
ceased, are entitled to the grateful recognition of the people of the 
United States ; and Congress ought to cause them to be placed 
on the pension rolls at the very earliest opportunity, on the 
same footing with the soldiers of the war of 1812. 

The Chair : Under the rules this resolution goes to the Com- 
mittee on Resolutions without debate. The first business, ac- 



National Democratic Convention. 21 

cording to the precedents of former Conventions, now in order, 
is the report of the Committee on Credentials. Is that com- 
mittee prepared to report ? It being evident that that Committee 
is not ready to report, the Chair will say that he has in his pos- 
session a telegram, which the Secretary will read. 

The Secretary read the following telegram : 

Reynolds Basin, N. Y., June 22, 1880. 
Chairman of the National Democratic Convention : 
Material ready for bonfire. Three cheers for Democratic nominee. 

J. C. Dewel, 
Pat. Bradley. 

The Chair: The Chairman of the Committee on Credentials 
not being in the house, the Chair will call upon the Chairman 
of the Committee on Permanent Organization for his report. 

Mr. E. L. Martin, of Delaware: Mr. Chairman, I am directed 
by the Committee on Permanent Organization to submit the fol- 
lowing report. I have the pleasure of stating to the Convention 
that it is the unanimous report of the Committee. 

The Chair : The Convention will listen to the report of the 
Committee on Permanent Organization. 

The Secretary then read the following: 

report of the committee on permanent organization. 

The Committee on Permanent Organization respectfully report 
that they have unanimously agreed upon the following as the 
Permanent Officers of the Convention : 

for president: 
Hon. J. W. STEVENSON, 

of Kentucky. 



FOR VICE-PRESIDENTS 



Hon. C. C. Langdon Alabama. Hon. W. S. FEATHERSTON.Mississippi. 

Dr. C. A. Gault Arkansas. - Dr. B. F. Dillon Missouri. 



Hon. W. C. Hendricks.. ..California. 

Hon. Alva Adams Colorado. 

Hon. Curtis Bacon Connecticut. 



Hon. R. S. Maloney Nebraska. 

Hon. J. C. Hagerman Nevada. 

Hon. Frank JoNES..New Hampshire. 



Hon. James Williams Delaware, j Hon. HezekiahB.Smitii.Ncw Jersey. 

Dr. William Judge Florida. ! Hon. Frederick Cook New York. 

Judge J. R. Alexander Georgia, j Hon. W. T. Dortch.. North Carolina. 

Hon. IT. M. Vandeveer Illinois. | Hon. J. J,,. McSwekney Ohio. 



22 



Official Proceedings of the 



Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 
Hon. 



James R. Slack Indiana. 

Samuel B. Evans Iowa. 

M. V. B. Bennett Kansas. 

Hy. Burnett Kentucky. 

James Jeffries Louisiana. 

Darius Alden Maine. 

Philip F. Thomas.... Mary land. 
J. H. French.... Massachusetts. 
Chas. H. RicHMOND..Michigan. 
L. L. Baxter Minnesota. 



Hon. J. W. Windom Oregon. 

Hon. D. E. ERMENTROUT.PennsyPnia. 
Hon. Thos. W. Segar.. Rhode Island. 
Hon. M. C. Butler... South Carolina. 

Hon. J. W. Childress Tennessee. 

Hon. Joel W. Robinson Texas. 

Hon. Nathan P. Bowman.. Vermont. 

Hon. J. W. Daniel Virginia. 

Hon. C. P. Snyder West Virginia. 

Hon. J. C. Gregory Wisconsin. 



FOR SECRETARIES. 



Hon. F. S. Ferguson Alabama. 

Hon. James P. Coffin Arkansas. 

Hon. J. B. Metcalf California. 

Hon. John B. Stone Colorado. 

Hon. Samuel Simpson. ..Connecticut. 

Hon. A. P. Robinson Delaware. 

Hon. J. B. Marshall Florida. 

Hon. Mark A. Harden Georgia. 

Hon. William A. Day Illinois. 

Hon. Rufus Magee Indiana. 

Hon. J. J. Snouffer Iowa. 

Hon. J. B. Chapman Kansas. 

Hon. T. G. Stuart Kentucky. 

Hon. Martin McNAMARA..Louisiana. 

Hon. John B. Redman Maine. 

Hon. E. E. Jackson Maryland. 

Hon. Jno. M. Thayer. Massachusetts. 
Hon. A. J. Shakespeare... Michigan. 
Hon. L. A. Evans Minnesota. 



Hon. R. C. Patty Mississippi. 

Hon. N. C. Dryden Missouri. 

Hon. James North Nebraska. 

Hon. F. F. Hilp Nevada. 

Hon. C. A. BusiEL...New Hampshire. 
Hon. James S. Coleman.. New Jersey. 

Hon. Frank Rice New York. 

Hon. R. M. FuRMAN..North Carolina. 

Hon. C. T. Lewis Ohio. 

Hon. A. Noltner Oregon. 

IIon. Edw. A. BiGLER..Pennsylvania. 

Hon. John Waters Rhode Island. 

Hon. John R. Abney. South Carolina. 

Hon. C. L.Ridley Tennessee. 

Hon. B. P. Paddock Texas. 

Hon. H. W. McGettrick... Vermont. 

Hon. R. W. Hunter Virginia. 

Hon. H. C. Simms West Virginia. 

Hon. J. M. Smith Wisconsin. 



The Committee recommend further, that the Secretaries and 
Reading Clerks, appointed for the Temporary Organization, 
occupy the same position in the Permanent Organization of the 
Convention. 



SECRETARIES. 



Hon. F. O. Prince Massachusetts. | Hon. 0. M. Hall Minnesota. 

Hon. (t. W. GuTHRiE..Peunsylvania. j Hon. A. Orendorff ....Illinois. 

Hon. Charles Ridley Tennessee. Hon. W. H. Gill New Jersey. 



Hon. E. S. Dodd Ohio. 



Hon. A. C. Parkinson Wisconsin, 



READING clerks. 



Hon. Neal S. Brown, Jr., 

House of Representatives. 
Hon. Thomas S. Pettit, 

House of Representatives. 



Hon. Mark A. Harden Georgia. 

Hon. T. O. Walker Iowa. 

Hon. Nicholas M. Bell Missouri. 

Hon. H. L. Bryan Delaware. 



Hon. James E. Morrison, New York. 



National Democratic Convention. 23 

The Committee recommend further that the Sergeant-at-Arms, 
and assistants already appointed, be continued in that office dur- 
ing the session of the Convention. 

The Committee further report that they have duly considered 
the memorial in relation to the representation of the District of 
Columbia and of the Territories, and have heard the argument of 
the memorialists, and respectfully recommend the adoption of 
the following resolution : 

Resolved, That two Delegates from the District of Columbia, 
and two Delegates from each of the Territories, be admitted to 
the Convention, and have the right to participate in debate, and 
every other right and privilege enjoyed by Delegates from the 
States, excepting only the right to vote. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

E. L. Martin, 
Chairman of Committee. 

F. W. Dawson, Secretary. 

The Secretary : A mistake occurs in the report just read. 
For Vice-President, the name of H. M. Vandeveer ; for Secretary, 
William A. Day — both for the State of Illinois. For Secretary 
from Colorado, Hon. John B. Stone. 

The Chair: The Convention has heard the report. 

Mr. Young, of Georgia: I rise to a privileged report. 

The Chair: I do not consider any report as privileged. 

Mr. Young: As Chairman of the Committee on Credentials 
I make the point that until the members of the Committee have 
heard who are members of the Convention, it is the highest 
privilege. 

The Chair : One moment. Gentlemen of the Convention, 
you have heard the report of the Committee on Permanent Or- 
ganization; what is your pleasure concerning the report? It is 
in your hands for your action. 

Mr. Martin, of Delaware : I move that the report of the 
Committee on Permanent Organization be adopted ; and on that 
motion I call the previous question. 

The Chair: The previous question is demanded. Is it sec- 
onded? [Cries of " No, no," and " I second the motion."] 

The Chair : I hear no second. 



24 Official Proceedings of the 

Mr. Mack, of Indiana: I move the adoption of the resolution. 

The Chair : As separated from the report ? 

Mr. Mack : As presented by the Committee. 

Mr. Martin : I withdraw my motion for the previous question. 

The Chair: The Delegate from Delaware withdraws the mo- 
tion for the previous question. The motion before the house is 
to adopt the report and resolution. 

Mr. Jeffries, of Louisiana: I move as a substitute for the 
motion that has just been made, that further consideration of the 
report of the Committee on Permanent Organization be suspended 
until after the Convention has heard the report from the Com- 
mittee on Credentials. 

The Chair: It is moved and seconded that the further con- 
sideration of the motion to adopt the report and resolution of the 
Committee on Permanent Organization be postponed until the 
Convention shall have acted upon the report of the Committee 
on Credentials. 

Mr. Barnes Compton, of Maryland: I desire to ask if the 
Chairman of the Committee on Credentials is ready to report 
now? 

Mr. Young (the Chairman of that Committee) : The Com- 
mittee is ready to report now. 

The Chair : The Delegate is answered. The question is, shall 
further proceedings upon the motion to approve the report of the 
Committee on Permanent Organization be postponed until after 
the Convention has acted upon the report of the Committee on 
Credentials. 

This motion was carried. 

Mr. Young (Chairman of the Committee on Credentials) : Mr. 
Chairman, I am directed by the Committee on Credentials to 
submit the following report which I ask be read at the Clerk's 
desk. 

The Chair: It shall be so done. The Convention will listen 
for the report of the Committee on Credentials. 



National Democratic Convention. 25 

report of the committee ox credentials. 

To the Chairman and Delegates of the 

National Democratic Convention: 

Your Committee on Credentials beg leave to submit the fol- 
lowing report : 

Massachusetts. Two Delegations are present from the State 
of Massachusetts, the one known as u the Faneuil Hall Delega- 
tion/' and the other as the "Mechanics Hall Delegation." By 
joint request made by the Delegations to the Committee on Cre- 
dentials, we unanimously recommend that both Delegations be 
admitted to seats in the Convention — the united Delegation to 
cast the vote to which the State is entitled. 

Pennsylvania. In the case of the contesting Delegations from 
the Twenty-sixth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, we re- 
port that the sitting Delegates are entitled to retain their seats 
as members of the Convention. 

New York. Your Committee has carefully examined all the 
evidence brought before it, bearing upon the contested case from 
the State of New York. It carefully and patiently considered 
all the facts in the contest and weighed the evidence presented 
by both sides, and by a singular unanimity voted to allow the 
sitting members to retain their seats. With the above excep- 
tions there w r ere no contests before the Committee, and we here- 
with append the list of Delegates duly entitled to seats upon this 
floor. Respectfully submitted, 

P. M. B. Young, 
Chairman Committee on Credentials. 

A. Noltner, Secretary. 

John K. Tarbox, Assistant Secretary. 

Mr. Young : I will allow one moment for the views of the 
minority. I will say it is a very small minority. 

Mr. Thomas M. Carroll, of Kansas : Mr. Chairman, I desire 
to present a minority report. 

The Chair: The Delegate from Kansas presents a minority 
report. Shall it be read? 

Mr. Carroll: Will you permit me to take the stand? My 
voice is too weak. 

The Chair : Do you prefer to read it yourself? [Cries of " Let 
the Clerk read it."] 9 



26 Official Proceedings of the 

Mr. Young: I ask that the gentleman read it himself. I 
prefer that the gentleman from Kansas be allowed to read his 
own report. 

The Chair: The gentleman from Kansas shall have his own 
way about it. The Convention will now listen to the report of 
the minority of the Committee on Credentials. 

Mr. Carroll then took the platform and read as 

follows : 

To the Chairman and Delegates of the 

National Democratic Convention: 
The undersigned, members of the Committee on Credentials, 
respectfully report, that after hearing the contesting delegations 
from the State of New York, we find that the State is divided 
into two factions, each having all the machinery of a perfect — 
[Cries of " Louder," "Let the Clerk read it," etc.] 

The Chair: If the spectators will be quiet, the delegate from 
Kansas can be heard by every member of this Convention. He 
is entitled to that courtesy ; I insist upon it, and shall enforce it. 

Mr. Carroll f continues the reading) : We find that the State 
is divided into two factions, each having all the machinery of a 
perfect party organization, and each assuming to regularly rep- 
resent a large bod}' of the Democratic voters of that State ; that 
each of said party divisions has held State Conventions under 
regular calls, and duly elected Delegates to represent the State 
of New York in this Convention; that the attitude of these 
factions is precisely analagous to that of the Democracy in that 
State in 1856; that to unite the party at that time the National 
Convention divided the Delegations, allowing each to cast one- 
half the votes to which that State was entitled in that Conven- 
tion; that such action united the party in the State of New York, 
and eventuated in the election of a Democratic President. We 
believe that a similar course at this time will result in kindred 
success, and we therefore recommend the adoption of the follow- 
ing resolution : 

Resolved, That the Faulkner branch of the Democratic Delega- 
tion from the State of New York be allowed to cast fifty votes in 
this Convention ; and that the Shakespeare Hall Democracy be 
allowed to cast twenty votes in this Convention; and that each 



National Democratic Convention. 27 

of the said divisions shall determine its method of casting such 
votes. All of which is respectfully submitted. 

(Signed,) Edward Carroll, of Kansas. 

Lawrence S. G. Fell, of New Jersey. 
Casimiro Barela, of Colorado. 
J. M, Hudson, of Arkansas. 

The Chair : Gentlemen of the Convention, you have now 
heard the majority and minority reports from the Committee on 
Credentials ; what action is it your pleasure to take ? 

Mr. Young, of Georgia : The Committee on Credentials has 
spent the whole night in the investigation of the case of the 
State of New York. To that Committee has been assigned this 
work, and it has accomplished it, and we think well accom- 
plished it. I am directed by the Committee to demand the pre- 
vious question on the report of the Committee. 

The Chair: The previous question is demanded on the report 
of the Committee. 

Mr. Young : I am informed that under the rules of the House 
of Representatives — 

The Chair : You are out of order. The previous question has 
been demanded and stated by the Chair. 

Mr. Young : I wish only to say — 

The Chair : You are out of order ; and can not be listened to. 

. Mr. Young : I withdraw the demand for the previous question. 

The Chair: The demand for the previous question has been 
withdrawn. 

Mr. B B. Smalley, of Vermont : I rise to a point of order. 
The demand for the previous question has been made and 
seconded, and it is not in the power of the gentleman to with- 
draw his demand. 

The Chair: The Delegate from Vermont is right. The ques- 
tion is, shall the main question be now put? [Cries of " Call the 
States."] 

The Chair : That of course. The Secretary will call the roll 
of the Convention. Those voting in the affirmative are voting in 
favor of the previous question; all who desire to continue the 
debate will vote in the negative. The Secretary will call the roll. 



28 



Official Proceedings of the 



The Secretary called the State of Alabama. That 
State not being ready, Mr. Cosgrove, of Missouri, said : 

Mr. Cosgrove : I rise to a point of order. If the previous 
question is voted, would it not be in order to have an hour's 
debate under the rules of the House of Representatives? 

The Chair : I do not so understand it. I can say that after 
laborious search for the rules governing Democratic Conventions, 
having read back to and through the proceedings of the Conven- 
tion of 1856, I find according to the report in the book that each 
Democratic Convention has adopted the rules governing the pre- 
vious Convention ; and if anybody knows what those rules are, I 
will thank him to come up and state them himself. I find at 
the last Convention, General McClernand presiding, that it was 
stated to the Convention and not denied, that the rules permitted 
only five-minute speeches. I am going to enforce that. That 
is all I know about it. 

The Clerk then called the roll of the States with the 
following result: 



States. 


Votes. 


Yeas. 


Nays. 


States. 


Votes. 


Yeas> 


Nays 


Alabama 


20 


5 


15 


Missouri 


30 


20 


10 


Arkansas 


12 


12 




Nebraska 


6 


6 




California 


12 


7 


5 


Nevada 


6 


6 




Colorado 


6 


4 


2 


New Hampshire. 


10 


10 




Connecticut 


12 


12 




New Jersey 


18 




10 


Delaware 


6 


6 




New York. 


70 






Florida 


8 


o 


6 


North Carolina . . . 


20 


6 


14 


Georgia 


22 


17 


5 


Ohio 


44 


25 


19 


Illinois 


. • 42 


16 


24 


Oregon 


6 


6 




Indiana 


30 


30 




Pennsylvania.... 


58 


38 


12 


Iowa 


22 


19 


3 


Rhode Island 


8 


8 




Kansas 


10 




10 


South Carolina... 


14 




14 


Kentucky 


24 


21 


3 


Tennessee 


24 


2 


22 


Louisiana 


16 




16 


Texas 


16 




16 


Maine 


14 
16 


14 


16 


Vermont 

Virginia 


10 
22 


8 
4 


2 


Maryland 

Massachusetts.... 


18 


26 


14 


10 


West Virginia ... 


10 


5 


4 


Michigan 


22 


17 


5 


Wisconsin 


20 




20 


Minnesota 


10 




10 













Mississippi 


16 


10 


6 


Total 


738 


361 


297 



When the State of New York was called, Mr. Daniel 
Manning, Delegate from that State, arose and said : 



National Democratic Convention. 29 

Mr. Manning, of New York : Mr. Chairman, New York de- 
clines to vote. 

The Chair : Shall the State of New York be excused from 
voting ? [Cries of " Yes, yes."] 

Mr. Young, of Georgia : I move that the State of New York 
be excused from voting. 

The Chair : There being no objection the State of New York 
is excused from voting. 

The call of the roll was then continued. At its 
termination the Chair said: 

The Chair: The Convention will listen to the result of the 
roll-call : 

The Clerk read the result: Total number of votes 
cast, 658: Ayes, 361; Nays, 297. 

The Chair: The demand for the previous question is sus- 
tained. 

Mr. Young, of Georgia : I rise to a point of order. 

The Chair: State the point of order. 

Mr. Young: Under the rules of the House of Representatives, 
after the previous question has been ordered there is one hour 
allowed for debate. I now propose that an hour be taken for 
debate; I propose to give two-thirds of that time to the con- 
testants from New York. 

The Chair : The point of order is well taken, in the opinion 
of the Chair. One hour is allowed for debate, of which forty 
minutes will be given by the Delegate from Georgia to the con- 
testants and their friends. The Delegate from Georgia has the 
floor for twenty minutes for himself, and such otHers as may se- 
cure the attention of the Chair, in support of the report. The 
Delegate from Georgia has the floor. 

A Delegate: He has the right to reserve the last twenty 
minutes to himself for dosing. 

Mr. Young : I believe the hour is under my control. 

Another Delegate: With the consent of the Delegate from 
Georgia, I desire to ask whether the Chairman of this Committee 



30 Official Proceedings of the 

(on Credentials) is not entitled to close the debate, and whether 
the last twenty minutes be not given for closing ? 

The Chair : The Chairman of this Committee is entitled to 
open and close, taking such part of his twenty minutes for 
opening and such part for closing as to him seemeth good. He 
has the floor. 

Mr. Young : I don't propose to speak. I propose to yield forty 
minutes now to any man who may be suggested by Mr. Kelly. 

The Chair: I understand that it is the wish of the contest- 
ants from New York that they shall be represented in this con- 
test by Mr. John Kelly; I ask the convention to concede to that 
request. New York seconds the request. 

A Delegate from Rhode Island : I move that John Kelly take 
the platform. 

The Chair: There being no opposition, John Kelly is invited - 
by the Convention to state the case of the contestants from New 
York. I invite him to the platform. 

Mr. Kelly, not being in the hall the Chair said: 

The Chair : The Convention will be so good as to give me 
their attention for a moment. It is reported that Mr. Kelly is 
not in the house: I ask the Convention to permit me to request 
the contesting Delegation from New York to assign any other 
gentleman to address the Convention in their behalf. Shall I 
have consent ? [Cries of " Yes, yes."] . 

The Chair : It is agreed that the Sergeant-at-Arms will escort 
any gentleman selected by them to the platform. 

The Sergeant-at-Arms then escorted Messrs. George 
W. Miller, of Albany, ."N ew York; Amasa J. Parker, 
of Albany, New York ; Patrick J. Cowan, of Saratoga, 
New York, and Edward Lawrence, of New York, to 
the platform, in accordance with this direction. 

The Chair : The Convention will now be addressed in behalf 
of the minority report by George W. Miller, of Albany, New 
York. I introduce Mr. Miller. 



National Democratic Convention. 31 



address of mr. g. w. miller. 

Mr. Chairman, and Fellow-Democrats of the Great Con- 
tinental Republic of America : I hope that the right of free 
speech will not he interrupted for one single moment by any man 
in whose heart one drop of Democratic blood remains. Gentle- 
men, we have come here with the same hopes, with the same 
ardent desires, with the same glorious objects in view, that you 
all each and every one of you have, as we believe. We have not 
come here to thrust into this grand assembly of glorious, patriotic 
citizens, any firebrand of discord ; but we come to bring peace ; 
we come with the olive branch ; we come to procure, if possible, 
the restoration of the grand old Democratic party to power in 
this down-trodden Republic of ours. 

Gentlemen, we did not expect that our Delegation would be 
accorded a hearing if the report of the Committee was against 
us, and therefore some of the leading members of that Delega- 
tion are not in the hall ; and the gentleman who was first called 
for, who is so widely known as a Democrat, who has been one all 
his life, and is known throughout this whole country by name 
and fame, is not here. Gentlemen, allow me to say that what- 
ever may be thought in regard to that man, he has no superior 
in this, or any other assemblage, in integrity and devotion to 
the true interests of the great National Democracy of this country. 
Now, gentlemen, we present to you here a state of affairs in the 
great Empire State which demands your earnest, your candid, 
your honest, and your unprejudiced consideration if you desire to 
redeem the party from the errors of the past four campaigns, 
and to go into the battle which stands before us with a hope of 
success. Success must be the result of harmony. In order to 
harmonize, you must give those whose votes you want some 
representation in the deliberations of your body. If our fore- 
fathers rebelled against the yoke of British tyranny because they 
were taxed without representation, how can you expect that 
there will not be some amongst those whom we represent here, 
whom it will be impossible to bring up to the battle with confi- 
dence or with spirit if they are not allowed some voice — some 
representation in your deliberations? Now, gentlemen, let me 
state to you calmly the situation. You ought to know it. I 
assume that you do in general terms. But let me recall to you 
that we are here from the State of New York contesting the seats 
of the sitting members in this body, and do not represent any 



32 Official Proceedings of the 

one local organization We represent that great Empire. We are 
here with seventy Delegates. The City of New York has but fif- 
teen Delegates here, seeking admission, the rest are scattered 
over the broad Empire, and they represent over forty thousand 
votes outside of the City of New York. Now, gentlemen, that is 
about one-fifth of the Democratic vote of that State. 

In 1856 the party was divided in that State, as it is now. The 
minority had bolted from, the old established Convention of the 
party, and for several years had kept up a separate organization, 
They sent delegates to the Convention assembled here in this 
great City of the West, and what was done ? Why, with the 
same facts, substantially, before that Convention, with the 
minority there having cast at the previous election in the State 
of New York just exactly, almost to a fraction, the same propor- 
tion of the Democratic vote that we cast last fall, they were 
admitted to equal representation. And upon whose motion? 
Upon the motion of the glorious 'sire of that glorious man, 
Thomas F. Bayard. 

Now, gentlemen, we want to succeed in the next election. We 
intend, — I speak for myself, and those who are about me, from 
the interior and the rural districts of the State particularly, — we 
intend to support any man who is nominated by this Conven- 
tion. And may the Divinity which rules over the destinies of 
all Nations, and which has an especial charge over the destinies 
of this great and glorious Republic, grant that the man nomi- 
nated here may be elected. 

I have never cast anything but a Democratic vote, and I have 
voted for thirty years in the Democratic party. I hope never to 
cast any other. I believe that is the sentiment of all my col- 
leagues; and I do not believe that a single man of them will 
desert the party. But gentlemen, if you should take a regiment 
into the field stripped of its apparent authority, its field officers 
deprived of the badges of their rank, their swords taken away from 
them, and they themselves reduced to the ranks, what could you 
expect from that regiment? Why, that they would slink out in 
cowardly retreat in the face of the enemy ; and the result might 
be that the defection in the case of a single regiment would 
cause the defeat of the largest army that ever marched into the 
field. 

Now, gentlemen, if you love Democracy, if you love the in- 
stitutions of your country, if you love fair play, if you mean to 
abide by precedents which have been established by National 



National Democratic Convention. 33 

Conventions year after year in this great Republic, by that 
truth-loving, liberty-loving party, do not depart from those 
precedents now, but adhere to them and do us simple justice; 
something upon the strength of which we can go home to New 
York and say to every Democratic voter: "they spurn none of 
you ; they open their arms wide to each and every one of you ; 
come in, vote for the honest, the true, the noble representative 
of the Democracy," and we will assure y<3u of victory in the 
State of New York. 

I do not propose, gentlemen, to enter into the details of the 
grievances which have produced this schism in the party in our 
State; it is in vain to discuss them. We might bring charges 
of irregularities against the other side. We have argued this 
before the Committee. The majority of that Committee seem to 
think that the sitting Delegates are regular, and, I imagine, 
based the report of the majority upon that simple fact. Now 
what is regularity? Regularity, gentlemen, has got in this 
country to mean something very like this: machine politics. 

Public opinion is against machine politics, and the govern- 
ment of parties by simple and pure machinery. You all know, — 
I want to talk candidly and seriously to you men who are 
going to vote upon this question, — I want to call your attention 
to what has just transpired in the Convention of our opponents 
in Chicago. What was it that defeated the most prominent 
candidate there? It was the impression that had gained ground 
and obtained credence in that Convention that throughout the 
country the " machine," as it is called in the State of New York, 
had been run with a high hand, and in such a manner as practi- 
cally to disfranchise a large portion of the Republican voters of 
that State. Without going into details, it is sufficient to say 
that you know from public report, you know from the statements 
of the press, you know from facts within your knowledge, that 
the same charge is made, and made with equal plausibility and 
truth, in regard to the management of the Democratic party by 
the sitting members and their friends, in the State of New 
York, and that has caused this' rebellion in our party there. 

Now, gentlemen, remember this; we have placed in nomination 
in that State, two electoral tickets. We would be glad to elect 
them both, and have them both vote for the Democratic candi- 
date named here. But we can not do it. How are you going to 
get out of this difficulty? How are you going to get rid of this 
Delegation ? Kick us out of the door, and let us go home ? How 
s 



34 Official Proceedings of the 

can you do it? It can only be done by an accommodating- 
spirit of compromise, by devising some means of conciliating the 
minority; otherwise they are already in the field and they will 
be voted for, in spite of all that man can do, unless some attempt 
is made by you here to arbitrate our difficulties, and reconcile 
our antagonism in that State. Why, gentlemen, it is impossible 
to settle this matter in any other way. Do you want the party 
to remain divided for years longer? Do you court defeat? We 
do not use this in a threatening way; I have told you that we 
mean to support the ticket. I have told you in what way you 
run the risk of defeat ; the few thousand votes cast by men we 
can not reach or control may defeat the electoral ticket in New 
York and overwhelm you with general defeat in the whole coun- 
try. Are you prepared for that result? Oh, no! I know you 
want success. I know that as much as you despise and as you 
deprecate the possibility of any third term government in this 
country, your hearts all pant for a first term. 

Now, gentlemen, all but fifteen of this Delegation represent the 
rural districts of New York State. Fifteen of the seventy Dele- 
gates here represent forty thousand votes cast in the city of New 
York last fall ; and the whole seventy-eight thousand votes are 
represented by the seventy Delegates ; and the minority report 
simply asks that you will grant us twenty out of the seventy 
votes in the Delegation. If that is done we can easily harmonize 
the electoral ticket. These seventy men can get together, the 
twenty and the fifty, and we can obtain the resignation of electors 
and make an electoral ticket which will bring out the entire 
enthusiasm, the united strength and the magnificent vote which 
you are to expect from the Empire State in November. 

I feel that for an outsider I have already taken too much of 
your valuable time. I thank you for your kind attention, but I 
know that there are so many more able gentlemen whose voices 
will carry weight according to their reputation in the country, 
and their age in the party, that I now give way in the hope that 
what little I have said will have set your minds at work upon 
this subject, and that the few minutes that are left for discussion 
may elicit a truly conservative feeling which will result in the 
best interests of our beloved, and, I hope, triumphant party. 

The Chair : The Convention will next be addressed on behalf 
of the minority report by that sterling Democrat, that eminent 
jurist, Judge Amasa J. Parker, of Albany, New York. 



National Democratic Convention. 35 



address of judge amasa j. parker. 

Fellow-Democrats, and Gentlemen of the Democratic 
Convention of this Great Nation : I appear before you now 
by your grace, as chairman, of the delegation of seventy from 
the State of New York, who are here claiming seats in this Con- 
vention. And allow me to say here that the Convention that 
chose those Delegates was a convention held in the State of 
New York, in April last, under a broad call, equal in liberality 
to the call of the National Committee, and in accordance with 
it; that that Convention assembled at Syracuse, and in it every 
district of the State was represented by Democrats. And a bet- 
ter Convention — one of better tried Democrats — never assembled 
in that State. They ask to be heard here; they chose their 
Delegates for that purpose. And let me say to you here, that 
those seventy Delegates represent far more than the seventy- 
seven thousand or seventy-eight thousand who voted for Mr. 
Kelly the fall before. They represent the Democracy of the 
country, and every district of the country. Tammany was rep- 
resented in that Convention only as it represented New York, or 
a portion of it. Tammany is represented in our Delegation only 
by fourteen Delegates. All the rest are from the broad country 
that chose the Delegation; and I say, therefore, that we represent 
at least one hundred and fifty thousand of the Democrats of the 
State of New York, w T ho demand the right to be heard in this 
great assembly in regard to the choice that is to be made. And 
I come here, gentlemen, in the spirit of harmony ; in the hope 
that something may be done to harmonize the differences that 
exist in that State. For it is true that at this moment there are 
two full, complete, perfect Democratic organizations in that 
State : two State Committees, two State Delegations, two State 
tickets for electors. It is an unfortunate crisis at a time like 
this, when we are on the eve of a great Presidential struggle, 
upon the result of which will depend the question of Democratic 
power for years to come, if not forever. We can not overestimate 
the importance of this contest, and we come here willing to 
make any sacrifice for the purpose of harmony. We come here, 
gentlemen, determined fully to support the ticket that you shall 
nominate. I speak for the great body of those whom these 
seventy represent, -We shall give a most cordial and cheerful 
support to whatever is done in this Convention. And, gentle- 
men, when I say that I do not simply represent those that voted 



36 Official Proceedings of the 

for Mr. Kelly, I have a right to say that I was not one of those; 
I voted for Governor Robinson, and so did a very large portion of 
the Convention over which I presided, and which has chosen 
Delegates here. We represent vastly more than the seventy- 
seven thousand that voted for Mr. Kelly. You must at least 
double those figures, for there is a very large section of the 
Democracy that did not vote for him,— that, like myself, voted 
for Governor Robinson, — that are engaged in this organization, 
and claim to be represented here, and who will not be represent- 
ed if you adopt this report. 

I come, therefore, to say a few words in behalf of the minority 
report, asking that we may be recognized; that we may have a 
voice in this Convention; that we may be placed in a position 
of responsibility; that we may be able to go home and say to 
those we represent that they have been fairly treated, that they 
have been represented, and that they are bound by honor and as 
Democrats to labor faithfully for whoever shall be nominated in 
this Convention ; and I ask your aid to accomplish that result. 

It is impossible in the few minutes that are given us here, to 
discuss the merits of these two organizations. It is impossible; 
it would .take more time than you have allowed us and more 
than you can give us. But I appeal to precedents. I suppose 
that a Democrat who, like myself, has never voted anything else 
than the regular Democratic ticket, has a right to appeal to 
Democratic precedents. I appeal to the vote of the Convention 
of 1856, when there were two delegations from New York ; one 
representing one-fifth of the vote cast for the candidates of the 
other. In that Convention, both sets of delegates being there 
claiming seats, it was referred to the Committee on Credentials; 
they made a report. But a minority report was also made, and 
that report was adopted on the motion of Mr. Bayard, then a 
member of the Convention ; and that report gave to each of those 
representations one-half of the vote to be cast. 

Now this is not a proposition to give us one-half; yet we are as 
fully entitled to it as they were. It is a proposition to give us 
twenty votes to the fifty that are to be cast by the sitting Dele- 
gates; and I submit to this Convention, if you will do what you 
can toward harmonizing ; if you will aid us in allaying the quar- 
rels that exist in the State of New York ; if you will make us a 
solid column in marching up to the polls in November, then lis- 
ten with reason, fairness, and liberality to this minority report, 
and give us a chance to be enrolled here to respond for those we 



National Democratic Convention. 37 

represent, and to join you in the great work of redeeming this 
country from the misrule of the Republican party, that has well 
nigh destroyed it. But I can not take any further time on an 
occasion like this; and I wish others to follow me, that you may 
see that our opinion is shared by all who are here with us. I 
therefore leave it to others to discuss. 

The Chair : The Convention will next be addressed in behalf 
of the minority report by Governor Hubbard, of Texas. 

ADDRESS OF GOV. RICHARD B. HUBBARD. 

Gentlemen of the Convention : I stand before you as the 
partisan of no man or body of men in the factions which are 
arrayed against each other from the State of New York. I stand 
before you representing a great State which the census takers 
will show to have two millions of people before many months 
shall pass. I stand before you representing the great Democratic 
party of that State, in the interest of equity and of justice, 
though it gave one hundred thousand majority for Tilden. We 
came to this Convention prepared to vote for Samuel J. Tilden, 
if you said so. We come prepared to vote for Hancock or Hen- 
dricks, Thurman or Bayard, or any other of the great unmen- 
tioned names which might come before this great assemblage of 
freemen. 

Therefore, I have to say this much : that the Democracy of my 
section of the Union, yielding their votes for the best, or for any 
person who may demand them, — for we are a solid South, thank 
God, on the Democratic question, — we come up here with the 
olive branch, forgetting the memories of the past, burying in a 
common grave the discords of the great war, honorable alike to 
both sections of this country, invoking the spirit of compromise ; 
and in that spirit let me say, that the minority report as pre- 
sented by this Committee smacks of that internal spirit of jus- 
tice, of fairness, that you can not ignore. For we are not in the 
heyday of our power, that we may throw away votes by the 
thousands and tens of thousands, as husks before the swine. No, 
no; the time may come before the ides of November, when the 
great Democratic party of this country, and our people from 
mountain and seaboard may cry out as the contest thickens, 
"Oh, for Blucher; oh, for night!" and the seventy-five thousand 
votes of New York may be that Blucher. I do not question the 
regularity of the men who sit here. I do not question the techni- 
calities upon which you have come; you may be so regular that 



38 Official Proceedings of the 

you bend backward. I honor you — every one of you, — but I honor 
minorities nevertheless. They have rights in this great Democ- 
racy, and in this great country, as well as majorities, and we can 
not, my countrymen, enter into this contest and ignore the great 
States of New York, Indiana, and New Jersey, the battle ground 
of the contest that is to come. And the Democrat of to-day who 
wishes victory, wishes it because we deserve it, and because of 
the principles which have come down like holy traditions from 
the fathers. We are men who go into the race from principle 
and not for men; Tilden will die, and Kelly will die, and Hen- 
dricks will die, and the great leaders will pass away. Their 
memories will live, and the principles of the Democratic party 
will live, while your mountains stand and your rivers roll down 
to the sea. 

I do not know men in this contest; and you should not know 
them. In 1856, — and I am not an old man, though I have been 
younger, — I was a member of the Convention of 1856 that sat in 
this goodly city. I recognize a few of the large number that 
were with me. The gallant Preston, of Kentucky, who responded 
to that outburst of enthusiasm when Breckinridge was nomi- 
nated; I remember being upon the Committee of Credentials 
when two Delegations from the State of New York, the "Hards" 
and the "Softs," came up from that grand old State with regular, 
yes, "regular," in quotation marks, credentials; and this body of 
the fathers then decided upon the principles of equity and justice, 
and fairness, that both should come in and cast the vote of the 
great State of New T York. If you invoke precedent, such as the 
lawyers invoke in the courts, there you have precedent for allow- 
ing history to repeat itself in this great presence and on this great 
day, fraught with peril to the destinies of our country and of the 
Democracy. The} 7 only ask a representation of twenty votes. 
Suppose that the minority should stand here to-day pledging you 
to go into this contest as private soldiers pledging, as you have 
heard fresh from their lips, to vote for whoever you may nomi- 
nate. Suppose that they had piled up a larger number of votes in 
the recent gubernatorial election, than was given to Governor 
Robinson, noble Roman as he is, then how the tables would have 
been changed. But yet regularity would have been against them. 
No, sir, it is votes that we want; it is votes. And it is useless to 
prate about forms and technicalities, Tammany Halls and sedi- 
tions at home, and this thing and that other thing. It is when 
the banners are out and war commenced, and the bugles are 



National Democratic Convention. 39 

sounding, — it is then that we do not find it in our hearts to put 
back a soldier from the mountain district, or from the lowland, 
who says that he is with us, and ask him the question, "in what 
school have you been taught? What papers do you hold in your 
hand ?" Rather do we say, "Are you willing to fight, to die for 
the cause?" " Yes, sir." '■ Then march in, sir !" 

I appeal to the men of New York who sit before me. The 
great issue now is not a State issue; it is an issue broader than 
New York, broad as she is. It is an issue in which the destiny 
of this country, the right of good government, the opposition to 
imperialism, to the concentration of the power in the hands of 
the few ; genuine reform in the civil service, the liberties of the 
State and of the citizen, all are involved. They are involved in 
the simple solution, perhaps, of this one question, because you 
can not afford, men of the Democracy, to lose New York. 

Now, sir, suppose, on the other hand, — and I have but a mo- 
ment to speak with you, — suppose on the other hand, that the reg- 
ular Delegation from the State of New York should say, " Well, 
because you have allowed these men representation, we will not 
vote your ticket." They, probably, would not venture to say it 
in this presence. But in such a case I might well reply : If that 
be true, if you can not unite among yourselves, my countrymen, 
then I call upon this assemblage of the wisdom and experience 
of the party, men who fought in many a hard fight, to come up 
and declare the bans, stand by the wedlock, and swear that 
whatever else may be bred, you shall not breed discord any 
longer in the Democratic party. 

Gentlemen of the Democracy, in conclusion allow me to say 
that in this contest which we are approaching, the South, a large 
part of which, in territory at least, I represent, asks nothing. 
We ask no Presidents, no Vice-Presidents. We do not even ask 
an organization in your Convention. And when we come upon 
bended knees and ask you among yourselves to bury the hatchet, 
and to save us from a future of the tyranny that we have endured 
in the past, then we hope, and we have the right to expect, that 
the great Democratic party will place its foot on schism and dis- 
cord wherever it may be. 

Massachusetts has done so already. That grand old State, 
which although a minority for many a year in the Democratic 
contest, she came up on this day and in the spirit of brotherhood 
her two Delegations yielded their mutual claims, and agreed to 



40 Official Proceedings of the 

be represented in this great Convention alike. If New York can 
not do it, let us do it for them. 

I am hopeful of the future. If, however, we quarrel here, if we 
allow the bitterness of discord, the apple of discord to be thrown 
into our midst here — if you rudely repulse these men who are 
begging to be enrolled in your ranks for service in the day when 
you will need them badly, — if you do this, and beget a spirit of 
mutual distrust and hatred among yourselves, then we shall have 
given away our birthright, and sold it for a mess of pottage. And 
if we succeed at all, as I believe, and hope to God we will, it will 
be done only by healing the divisions at home and by that broad 
and catholic spirit which has heretofore ever characterized the 
history of the Democratic party. 

I have nothing more to say except this : that whoever may be 
nominated, whoever may be the choice of this great body of free- 
men, he will receive the solid support of every State in this 
Union south of Mason and Dixon's line, known of old, commenc- 
ing with Tilden and ending with the dark horse. And if we fail, 
we call upon you to remember that in the deep damnation of the 
taking off of the debatable States of the North, you can not shake 
your gory locks at us. We are bound to succeed. We have car- 
ried out in the time past, — when we were robbed of the Presidency 
b} r the greatest robbery known to history, — we have carried out 
faithfully all the promises of the last great campaign. We have 
reduced the expenses of the government by millions upon mil- 
lions; our reforms introduced in all the branches of the judicial 
and financial departments of government have been in strict ac- 
cordance with all our promises; we go into this contest with the 
memory of a great wrong behind us ; we go into this contest with 
the feeling that we have left no pledge unredeemed; and we 
should go into it with this other feeling, that if we fail now, the 
sun in heaven may never rise again upon a successful Democratic 
National party. The epitaph upon it has never yet been written, 
and no successful Democratic President may ever after this, if we 
fail, be able to write that epitaph for us. But that epitaph, if 
written, would be, " discord at home : faction and rivalries around 
our own hearthstones : failure to comply with the demands of 
justice, and the traditions of our great party did the deed." 

I congratulate you, my countrymen, that an opportunity is offer- 
ed to do an act of justice that may carry you all safely, gloriously 
and successfully through the great contest that is now before us. 

I thank you for the attention which you have given me. 



National Democratic Convention. 41 

The Chair : The Convention will now be addressed in behalf 
of the majority report by Col John R. Fellows, of New York. 

ADDRESS OF COL. JOHN R. FELLOWS. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention: New 
York has done to me, sir, the high honor of assigning to me the 
position of her defender to the right of representation on the floor 
of this Convention. It is an issue which infinitely transcends 
in importance, the question of whether one man or another shall 
take his seat in your midst. It is the question as to whether the 
sovereign majesty of New York is great enough to create for itself 
representation in the national councils of the party, or whether 
that right shall be wrested from her grasp, and assumed by her 
sister States of the confederation. 

I shall the best discharge my duty by a plain statement of the 
causes which have produced this division. I am not here, Mr. 
Chairman, and Fellow-Delegates, to pose in theatrical attitudes; 
I am not here to catch your'attention by finely rounded periods; 
I do not come for the purpose of discussing the issues of the 
campaign, or of winning your applause — for fifteen minutes, sir, 
permit me to address myself to the head rather than to the heels 
of this Convention. 

New York presents itself in a divided attitude here. What 
has caused the division ? Fellow-Delegates, will you listen to a 
brief statement of uncontradicted matters? For twenty-three 
years, down to 1879, there had been but one Democratic party in 
the State of New York; but one State Central Committee, but 
one State Convention, but one organized representation of the 
great party, numbering five hundred and thirty thousand Demo- 
cratic votes within that State. In 1879 a Convention of that 
party was called on the 10th of September, at Syracuse, for the 
purpose of nominating a ticket, including Governor and all our 
highest State officers. There was no question about the regu- 
larity of that Convention. There was but one party assembled 
in that Convention ; Tammany Hall, which represented the De- 
mocracy of the county of New York, came up with its Delegation, 
headed by John Kelly. They were admitted to their seats in the 
Convention ; they named members of their own Delegation upon 
the State Central Committee for the ensuing year; they named 
their Vice-President and the other officers of the Convention; 
they were represented upon every Committee before the Conven- 
tion ; all other Democrats from New York county were shut out 



42 Official Proceedings of the 

from representation there. No question, then, but that John Kelly 
and his followers were accorded all the rights that Democrats 
could claim upon the floor of a Democratic Convention. What fol- 
lowed? Gentlemen have spoken laboredly and eloquently here, 
of precedents, of what caused separation in the party in other 
years. Let me call your attention, particular^, to what caused 
the separation at Syracuse, and see, my eloquent friends from the 
South-west, if you can find in that anything that you can justify 
by your precedent of 1856. 

The platform of the party was adopted; Mr. Kelly and his 
Delegates voted for it; the candidates for the position of Governor 
were placed in nomination, and Mr. Kelly and his Delegates 
named a candidate. The call of the counties was proceeded with ; 
when it had reached a sufficient length down to enable Mr. Kelly 
and all the State to know that Governor Robinson would re- 
ceive the nomination, the Tammany Hall Delegation arose in 
a body, and declared that they would not support Lucius Robin- 
son, if he was nominated; and thereupon withdrew from the 
Convention. 

Governor Hubbard, do you remember, sir, w r hat caused the split 
in the Democratic party in New York in 1856? Was it because 
one man was named instead of another? No; it was a question 
of high principle, Mr. Chairman; a question which distracted 
every Convention throughout the land; a discussion which sev- 
ered the Republic in twain, which required two millions of armed 
men, and four years of war to settle. A question of principle and 
conviction between men. This bolt at Syracuse was a bolt upon 
a candidate and nothing else. Where in all the history of the 
Democratic party, where, Fellow-Democrats, disposed to be fair 
and just, have you ever admitted men to representation upon 
the floor of your Convention, who fell away from you for no other 
reason but assigning as the sole cause, that you had nominated 
one man instead of another who was their preference? They 
bolted the Convention, went out and nominated John Kelly in 
an adjoining hall, beat the party in the State of New York, and 
to-day, to-day, confronting the majesty and the sovereignty of 
the State of New York, they have the impudence to come into 
this Convention, walking over the slaughtered body of the Demo- 
cratic party in the State of New York, which they threw down, 
prone and helpless for a time, — walking over its body up to the 
door of the National Convention, and asking for admission upon 
no other ground, God help us! upon no other ground, than that 



National Democratic Convention. 4B 

they had shown strength enough to be able to beat the party if 
it did not nominate a man to suit them. 

Sirs, I will not stop to deal with these skirmishes along the 
Tammany line. However venerable and respectable they are, 
they do not represent the force that occasioned the bolt in New 
York. They say that they will support your ticket. But John 
Kelly has fourteen representatives from the city of New York 
asking for seats upon this floor, and obtaining them if you adopt 
this minority report. John Kelly stood before your Committee 
on Credentials last night, and declared with all the emphasis he 
could give to language, that if this Convention dared to nomi- 
nate a certain man, he and his friends would bolt again. 

And furthermore, John Kelly stood night before last, upon the 
balcony of the Burnet House in this city, and addressing a multi- 
tude, again declared that he would not support Samuel J. Tilden, 
if he should be nominated by this Convention. The Tammany 
Hall General Committee, one week ago, — one week ago to-night, 
I think, — passed resolutions declaring that if Samuel J. Tilden 
received the nomination of this Convention they would run a 
separate Presidential ticket. [A voice in the gallery, " They 
will ! " 

Mr. Fellows : Of course they will. 

A Delegate: Put him out! 

Mr. Fellows : No, gentlemen, let him have free speech. The 
galleries speak plainer than the men upon this platform. The 
galleries have obtained all the seats they aspire to; the men here 
are talking for theirs. But yet out of the mouths of babes and 
fools we shall arrive at a correct conclusion. 

I have only alluded, gentlemen, to the causes which separated 
us in New York. What hinders harmony in the party now? 
These men say they will support your ticket. Very good; then 
where is the party disunited in New York ? Must you give them 
honors and emoluments and places, to win their support? 

I close, gentlemen, by presenting the question with which I 
began, since there are other gentlemen who contemplate appear- 
ing for the regular Delegation, with this proposition : Dare you, — 
and I say it in no defiant spirit, — dare you, Democratic Delegates 
of these States, deny to the sovereign power of New York, the 
right you so proudly and justly assert for yourselves? Pardon 
me for saying that I was a little surprised to hear the remark 
which fell from the most eloquent gentleman from Texas. " We 



44 Official Proceedings of the 

are regular," he says. I concede it to you. But what does that 
regularity imply? It implies that the sovereign power of New 
York has stamped upon the foreheads of those gentlemen there, 
her sign and signet, accrediting them to the Democracy of the 
Nation. 

Dare you of other States, violate her person ? Dare you trample 
her rights into the dust? For the whole question that you have 
to consider, since our regularity is conceded upon all hands, is to 
determine whether you will give to the State of New York the 
right to select her own representatives upon the floor of the Con- 
vention, or whether you shall pick them up from visiting stran- 
gers on the streets of Cincinnati, and by the will of other States, 
deny to us that most sacred of all rights. Come, what says South 
Carolina, chivalrous, brave, gallant, standing always and firmly 
by her inherent rights? Will South Carolina, willing to fight 
and die for what she believes are the prerogatives of her State, 
assist in stripping from the brows of the Empire State the signs 
and symbols of her sovereignty and majesty ? What says Vir- 
ginia, with her glorious motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannisf" Will she 
dare place the hand of violence upon the sacred person of New 
York, and strike her helpless and prostrate to the dust, refusing 
to her the right to select from whom she will, of her Democratic 
hosts, her chosen ambassadors and representatives here? Oh, 
Democrats! one word and I have done. Our seats are not the most 
important thing. The right of a State is trembling in the bal- 
ance now. Whatever else you do, pause long, consider well, before 
you strike full in the face the sovereign queen whose credentials 
we bear upon this floor. 

The Chaie: I have not seen the hands of the clock during 
the moments that have been consumed by applause. There 
remains five minutes of time on each side; the five minutes be- 
longing to the minority will be occupied by F. L. Westbrooke, of 
Kingston, New York, whom I now introduce to you. 

ADDRESS OF F. L. WESTBROOKE. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I have 
not the claim upon your time and attention that the distin- 
guished gentlemen had who have preceded me; nor have I any 
claims whatever upon you, except my earnest desire for the suc- 
cess of Democratic principles, which can be obtained only by the 
success of Democratic nominees. It matters not, gentlemen of 
this Convention, what may be the causes of the disruption of the 



National Democratic Convention. 45 

Democratic party in the State of New York. It exists; and the 
only thing to which you are called to direct your best efforts, is a 
remedy for the evil that exists. What is that remedy? It would 
be idle for me to stand here and tell you of the causes which have 
honestly prompted these men to take the stand they have taken 
on behalf of their one hundred thousand Democratic voting con- 
stituents of the State of New York. Do you doubt their sin- 
cerity? Do you question their life-long loyalty to Democratic 
principles and to the Demo3ratic party ? I do not. 

Now the question is, what shall we do to bring them back once 
more into the great Democratic fold? I do not appeal to the preju- 
dices or the sympathies of the separate States; nor shall I spend 
the few minutes allotted to me in reciting their different mottoes, 
if I did, I would appeal to that of noble Kentucky, which is 
" United we stand, divided we fall." 

Gentlemen, there has been a concerted and, I feel, a somewhat 
effective effort made during the past week in this city to identify 
the contestants here with Tammany Hall. We, gentlemen, are 
fifty-five in number, of the seventy Delegates representing that 
State Convention here, of which Tammany Hall has fifteen and 
fifteen only. After the decision of the Committee on Credentials 
was known, we came in here to cast our lot and the lot of our 
constituents with you. But Tammany Hall is not here. I know 
not why ; but I pray that such action may be taken that her 
fifty thousand trusty votes may be cast with us and with you for 
the nominee of the Democratic Convention. Tammany Hall has 
also been subjected to a vast concentrative power here, and seems 
to have been distilled, if the words of these gentlemen are to be 
taken as true, into John Kelly. That, gentlemen, is another 
mistaken notion. Like all organizations, it must have a head, 
and it is well for New York, it is well for Tammany Hall, that it 
has now at its head a true and tried Democrat, and an honest 
man. But he can not control it. Is any man in your Delegation 
to control it ? No, by the votes already given, I see that you vote 
according to your own convictions of right and duty. But we 
gentlemen in the country who have no association or affiliation 
with Tammany Hall or its braves, unless they come with us, are 
here presenting the claim of at least seventy-five thousand of the 
bone and sinew of the Democratic party. Its grievances that 
have made us take the position we occupy I have neither the 
time nor the inclination to narrate ; but it is sufficient to say 
that they are known to them, and they are like the heart which 



46 Official Proceedings of the 

knows its own bitterness, known to themselves, and they are 
sufficient to justify them in the action they have taken. I trust, 
gentlemen, that we who come here — we amount to nothing — but 
I mean the men who sent us here to represent them, — that we 
can go back to them and say, "the Democracy of the United 
States in National Convention assembled have extended to us at 
least its declaration of assent to our acting earnestly, and we 
trust successfully, in the coming campaign." 

Aye, gentlemen, we wish clearly to say that we represent the 
country Democracy of the State of New York. We ask in its 
behalf representation here; not because we desire to get into this 
Convention, but so that we ma} 7 say to these disaffected voters, 
scattered through every election district in the great State of 
New York, that you manifested a willingness for them to act 
with you, whoever the nominee may be, giving their representa- 
tives a partial representation in this Convention. Gentlemen, 
it lies with you, — the responsibility is great. 

No one desires, nor intends, nor wishes to utter even the 
shadow of a threat, but you know that while it is unwise to 
contend against the inevitable, it is foolish to undertake the im- 
possible ; and I fear, knowing well what I say, I fear that our 
utmost efforts can not dissipate the languor which will prevail 
in our ranks if we do not have this partial representation. 

The Chair: The Convention will now be addressed on behalf 
of the majority report by Rufus W. Peckham, of Albany. 

ADDRESS OF HON. RUFUS W. PECKHAM. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I have 
but five minutes in which to address you. The honorable Dele- 
gate from Texas, in making his remarks before the Convention, 
said " it is votes that we want." And I re-echo it. It is votes 
that we want, and votes that we must have. How are those 
votes to be procured? If this Convention will bear with me one 
moment, I will, so far as in me lies, in behalf of the regular Dele- 
gation from New York, show them how. 

In 1876, after the St. Louis Convention had nominated Gov- 
ernor Tilden for President, the Democracy of New York came 
home and nominated for the office of Governor, as his successor, 
Lucius Robinson, of New York. He was elected Governor of the 
Empire State ; and while he was Governor, while he had the 
interests of the Democratic party of the State and Nation at 
heart, he knew that he could not better serve that party than by 



National Democratic Convention. 47 

the honest discharge of his official duty as Chief Magistrate of 
the Empire State. As that Chief Magistrate, he knew neither 
friend nor foe; and when complaints came up to the executive 
chamber in regard to the manner in which the duties of the 
count} 7 clerk had been discharged, he listened to them, and when, 
upon the charges being preferred, and they were not only con- 
fessed, but the individual proclaimed his intention to keep ahead 
in the same track he had been going, Governor Robinson used 
his official ax and cut off his head. When he did that, as the 
county clerk was a representative man in Tammany Hall, John 
Kelly, its leader and controller, declared war against the Demo- 
cratic Governor of Xew York. And after that war was declared, 
the time came for a re-nomination; the men from the rural dis- 
tricts of the State of New York made up their minds that they 
would stand by the honest representative of Democratic princi- 
ples, in the person of their Chief Magistrate, Lucius Robinson; 
and when they came together in the city of Syracuse, notwith- 
standing the threats and denunciations of John Kelly and Tam- 
many Hall, the men of Xew York had the audacity, aye, the 
temerity to nominate the man they wanted, notwithstanding 
John Kelly threatened to kill him. And when he was nomi- 
nated, Tammany Hall, through John Kelly, nominated another 
man; and that organization, and that organization alone, by its 
own power, stabbed the Democratic heart of the Democratic Gov- 
ernor of New York, and elected Cornell Chief Magistrate of the 
Empire State. And now, with their hands still bloody with the 
gore of the Democratic party, they come here and talk about 
harmony ! 

I tell you, gentlemen of the Convention, that we have men in 
New York, as well as on the broad prairies of the West. And 
when they hear from this Convention that the man of their 
choice having been killed by this same organization, this organi- 
zation comes here and demands in the interest of harmony that 
they shall disfranchise an equal number of the regularly ac- 
credited Delegates from the State of Xew York. — if this Conten- 
tion should do this, my friend from Texas would be calling louder 
in the wilderness for votes from Xew York. 

The Delegation which I have in part the honor to represent, 
would return to New York, in any event, and do all they could 
for the nominee of this Convention. But, as I say, no leader can 
lead a free people against the choice of their own conscience. 
And when they feel, as I know they will, that nine-tenths of the 



48 Official Proceedings of the 

Democracy of the rural districts of the State of New York, where 
four-fifths of the Democracy are to be found, would never submit; 
we could not bring them to say that they would vote the ticket, 
if the man who destroyed the Chief Magistrate of our State for 
the simple reason that he honestly discharged his duty, came 
here in the interest of harmony and demanded and received 
recognition at the hands of this Convention. 

Gentlemen, that can not be done. The way to win votes is to 
keep in their seats the men from the regular Delegation from 
the State of New York. And when they go back, no matter who 
the nominee of this Convention may be, they will see to it that 
the thirty-five electoral votes of the State of New York shall be 
for that nominee, 

The Chair : The Chairman of the Committee has three min- 
utes in which to close the debate. 

Mr. Young, of Georgia: Gentlemen of the Convention, it was 
because the Committee did not desire to take the time of this 
Convention that it directed me to demand the previous question. 
Two hours was the time allotted by this house, three-fourths 
of which has been given to the contestants. This case was re- 
ferred to the Committee on Credentials; that Committee spent 
the whole of last night calmly deliberating upon this question, 
between these two factions; that Committee has adjudicated this 
case, as if every member had been upon his oath ; that Committee 
find the great State of New York here with but one Delegation 
with accredited certificates; that Committee find seventy gentle- 
men here, no doubt all good and honorable men, who have come 
to this Convention. And they told us first that if we nominated 
Samuel J. Tilden, they would bolt the ticket. Samuel J. Tilden 
is not before this Convention; I, for one, would to God that he 
were. 

They have no other cause. They are seventy honorable and 
good men from New York; and I would that we might invite 
them here. But there are only seats for seventy that come with 
accredited papers from that State. On a certain day there was a 
call issued in that State, which I will ask the Clerk to read. 

The Clerk [reading] : The Democratic electors of the State 
and all others who intend to support the nominees of the National 
Democratic Convention, are invited to send three Delegates from 
each assembly district to a State Convention, to be held at Syra- 
cuse on the 10th of September, 1879. 



National Democratic Convention. 



49 



Mr. Young : Every member of the Democratic party of the 
State of New York was invited to that Convention; but these gen- 
tlemen did not come. That is the point in this case. I now leave 
the question without fear to the Convention, and demand a vote. 

Mr. Cosgrove, of Missouri : Will the gentleman allow me to 
ask a question ? Did Mr. Kelly say he would not vote for the 
nominee of this Convention? 

Mr. Young: He said he would not support Tilden if he were 
nominated. 

The Chair : The debate is now closed. Before the previous 
question was demanded, the majority report "was read and pro- 
posed, and the minority report was read and proposed; and in 
mv judgment, the question now first to be taken is whether the 
minority report shall be substituted for so much of the majority 
report as it covers. Upon that question the roll will be called. 

I have been requested to re-state the question in its present 
form. If I can have the attention of the Convention for a mo- 
ment, I will re-state the precise position of the question. The 
first motion was to adopt the majority report ; the second was to 
amend by substituting the minority report. Those who wish to 
substitute the minority report will vote aye; and those who wish 
to adhere to the majority report will vote no. The call of the 
roll will now proceed. 



States. 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia.... 

Illinois 

Indiana , 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts. 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 



Votes. 
20 
12 
12 
6 
12 
6 
8 
22 
42 
30 
22 
10 
24 
16 
14 
16 
26 
22 
10 
1G 



Ayes. 

11 

12 

2 

3 

1 

5 

•9 

26 



10 



Nays, 
8 

10 

3 

12 

5 

3 

13 

16 

30 

22 

24 
16 
8 
4 
15 
20 
10 
12 



States. 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire. 

New. Jersey 

New York 

North Carolina... 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania.... 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina... 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont.. 

Virginia. 

West Virginia ... 
Wisconsin 



Votes. 
30 

6 

6 
10 
18 
70 
20 
44 

6 
58 

8 
14 
24 
16 
10 
22 
10 
20 



Ayes. 
11 



17 

10 
2 

5 
11 
13 

3 

4 

I 



Nay? 
19 
6 
6 
9 
6 

20 
27 

6 
47 

6 

9 
12 

3 



Totai 738 205$ 45; 



50 Official Proceedings of the 

When Arkansas was reached Mr. J. P. Mitchell of 
that State said: 

Mr. Mitchell ; I desire to make an explanation of the vote ; 
I will send it up to the Secretary. 

The Secretary [reading] : The Arkansas Delegation was in- 
structed by its State Convention to vote as a unit, and a majority 
of her Delegates favor the minority report; and while we have 
no disposition to violate our instructions we ask that the records 
of the Convention show that we personally favor the majority 
report. 

B. R. Davidson, 
J. P. Mitchell, 
Delegates. 

When Indiana was called the Chairman of the Dele- 
gation stated that she cast her vote as a unit under 
instructions. 

When Minnesota was called the Chairman of the 
Delegation stated that Minnesota voted as a unit un- 
der instructions from her State Convention. 

When -New York was called Mr. Daniel Manning 
of that State asked that Xew York be passed for the 
present. When she was again called at the end of the 
roll. Mr. Manning siid: 

Mr. Manning : Mr. Chairman, New York again requests to be 
excused from voting. 

The Chair: New York asks to be excused from voting; shall 
they be excused ? They are excused from voting. The Secretary 
will declare the result. 

The Clerk announced the result of the call of the 
roll as follows: Whole number of votes, 662^: Yeas, 

205 J; i^ays, 457. ' • 

The Chair: The motion is lost. The question is now on the 
adoption of the majority report, if the Convention is ready for 
the question. Is tho call of the roll demanded? 



National Demockatic Contention. 51 

The call of the roll not being demanded, the Chair 
put the question, and the majority report in all its 
parts was adopted. 

Mr. Wilson, of West Virginia : As a member of the Com- 
mittee on Credentials, and one of the majority of that Committee 
who agreed to the report of that Committee, I think it proper 
to offer the following resolution. [Calls for u Regular order. "] 

The Chair : This is the regular order. 

The resolution was then read: 

Resolved, That the Delegation from the State of New York, of 
which Judge Amasa J. Parker is Chairman, be invited to seats 
upon the floor- of this Convention during its sessions. 

Mr. Young, of Georgia : It is due to the gentleman to state that 
this resolution was before the Committee, and voted down ; but I 
believe that the Committee now would vote for the resolution. 

The resolution was adopted. 

The following is the official list of the Delegates to 
the National Democratic Convention as reported by 
the Committee on Credentials, and taken from the 
original report of that Committee: 

LIST OF ZDIELEGr-A-TIES. 
ALABAMA— 20 Delegates. 

AT l,ARGE. 

E. W. Pettus. W. H. Barnes. 

C. C. Langdon. A. H. Keller. 

Dixfrirt. District. 

1st Wm. K.Clark. 5th R. H. Abererombie. 

Chap. L. Scott. H. J. Callens. 

2d H. C. Semple. 6th T. C. (lark. 

A. A. Wiley. H. M. Caldwell. 

3d S.S.Scott. 7th L. F. T>ox. 

L. W. McLaughlin. .1. H. Dfeque. 

4th J. F. Johnston. 8th A. S. Fletcher. 

ThoF. Seay. S. Black well. 



52 



Official Proceedings of the 



ARKANSAS— 12 Delegates. 



AT LARGE. 



John Parham. 

Dr. John P. Mitchell. 



H. King White. 
B. R. Davidson. 



Listrict 

1st..... 



J. P. Coffin. 

T. E. Stanley. 

2d C. A. Garratt. 

J. M. Hubson. 



District 

3d 



B. T. Embry. 

B. B. Beavers. 

4th G. B. Greenhaw. 

R. R. Poe. 



CALIFORNIA— 12 Delegates. 



William P. Frost. 
John Foley. 
J. B. Metcalfe. 
J. E. McElrath. 
G. H. Cassell. 
R. D. Stephens. 



W. C. Hendricks. 
A. M. Stevenson. 
Thos. L. Thompson. 
C. H. Maddox. 
Jesse D. Carr. 
Wallace Woodworth. 



COLORADO— 6 Delegates. 



William A. H. Loveland. 
Casimiro Barela. 
Charles S. Thomas. 



John F. Humphries. 
Sam. E. Browne. 
Alva Adams. 



CONNECTICUT— 12 Delegates. 



Alfred E. Burr. 
William E. Parsons. 
David A. Wells. 
William H. Barnum. 
Jeffrey 0. Phelphs. 
Jabez L. White. 



Samuel Simpson. 
( Jurtis Bacon. 
Ralph Wheeler. 
T. W. Greenslit. 
Jonathan E. Wheeler. 
Owen B. King. 



DELAWARE— 6 Delegates. 



George Gray. 
George H. Bates. 
James Williams. 



E. L. Martin. 
A. P. Robinson. 
Gov. Saulsburv. 



FLORIDA— 8 Delegates. 



Thos. C. Lanier, 
E. M. L'Engle. 
C. C. Yonge. 
C. F. Dyke. 



W. C. Brown. 
P. P. Bishop. 
William Judge. 
J. B. Marshall. 



GEORGIA— 22 Delegates. 



A. R. Lawton. 
George T. Barnes. 
E. P. Howell. 
P. M. B. Young. 



W. A. Wilkin. 
J. M. Couper. 
J. R. Alexander. 
B. E. Russell. 



National Democratic Convention 



53 



L. M. Felton. 
D. M. Roberts. 
T. W. Grimes. 
P. H. Brewster. 
John D. Stewart. 
C. C. Duncan. 
James G. Ockington, 



A. C. McCalla. 

J. C. Fain. 
A. H. Gray. 
D. M. Dubose. 
Patrick Walsh. 
W. P. Price. 
T. M. Peeples. 



ILLINOIS— 42 Delegates. 



Melville M. Fuller. 
Samuel S. Marshall. 

District. 

1st Henry F. Sheridan. 

John R. Hoxie. 
2d Carter H. Harrison. 

Patrick Howard. 
3d Perry H. Smith. 

Franklin L. Chase. 
4th A.. M. Herrington. 

Joseph Glidden. 
5th J. M. Potter. 

J. M. Stowell. 
6th Charles Dunham. 

Henry B. D. Buford. 
7th Wm. Reddick. 

Andrew Welsh. 
8th Geo. C. Harrington. 

Geo. V. Hilling. 
9th L. W. Ross. 

L. W. James. 
10th J. A. Stewart. 

S. B. Montgomery. 



John A. McClernand. 
W. J. Dowdall. 

District. 

•11th Walter F. Carlin. 

Scott Wike. 
12th H. M. Yandeveer. 

Henry H. Barnes. 
13th Luther Dearborn. 

William T. Kirk. 
14th William A. Day. 

Jas. W. Craig. 
15th Wm. M. G.irranJ. 

S. L. Whitehead. 
16th lacobFouck. 

W. S. Foreman. 
17th George A. B.iyle. 

Seymour F. Wilcox. 
18th W. H. Green. 

W. K. Murphy. 
19th J. M. Crebs. 

G. B. Hoblits. 



INDIANA— 30 Delegates. 



J. E. McDonald. 
W. F. Niblack. 

District. 

1st John Neater. 

W. G. Kidd. 
2d Wm. A. Traylor. 

\. J. Hostetter. 
3d Jas. A. (ravens. 

Jno. II. Stotsenburg. 
4th Ino. A. (ravens. 

Jos. H. Barkam. 
5th D. G. Vawter. 

F. Henderson. 



D. W. Yoorhees. 
J. K. Slack. 



District 
0th 



Wm. Thistlewnite, 

Milton .lames. 
7th Oscar II. I lord. 

W. sett Ray. 
8th ( reorge A. Knighl 

William Mack. 
9th lolm R. Coffroth. 

Theo. I >avifl. 
10th Rufua McGee. 

D. F. Skinner. 



54 



Official Proceedings of the 



11th David St udebaker. 

Chas. H. Brownell. 
12th Allen Zollars. 

O. D. Willett. 



13th . 



.Edward Hawkins. 
A. F. Wilden. 



IOWA— 22 Delegates. 



T. J. Potter. 
John F. Bates. 



District. 

1st James Hagerman. 

George G. Rodman. 
2d J. J- Richardson. 

G. L. Johnson. 
3d Dan. S. Malven. 

C. N. Dunham. 
4th . . . . John Foley. 

Martin Blim. 
5th J. J. Snouffer. 

C. S. Lake. 



John P. Irish. 
Jacob 0. Morgan. 

District. 

6th Cyrus H. Mackey. 

Samuel B. Evans. 
7th J. A. Penick. 

George H. Gardner. 
8th Robert Percival. 

Wm, H. Anderson. 
9th T. L. Bowman. 

E. D. Fenn. 



KANSAS— 10 Delegates. 



Charles W. Blair. 
John Martin. 

District, 

1st Edward Carroll. 

Jos. B. Chapman. 
2d John R. Goodin. 

M. V. B. Bennett. 



Richard B. Morris. 
Thomas M. Carroll. 

District. 

3d George C. Rogers. 

Thomas George. 



KENTUCKY— 24 Delegates. 



Henry Watterson. 
John W. Stevenson. 

District. 

1st C. P. Allen 

Henry Burnett. 
2d H. D. McHenry. 

C. A. Board. 
3d C. M. Thomas. 

W. L. Porter. 
4th J. W. Hays. 

J. P. Thompson. 
5th Dr. W. Walling. 

Boyd Winchester. 



William Preston. 
William Lindsay. 

District. 

6th R. W. Nelson. 

T. J. Migibben. 
7th W.C.P.Breckinridge. 

C. M. Harwood. 
8th George Perkins. 

Matt. Walton. 
9th S. M. Burdett. . 

J. R. Garrett. 
10th G. S. Wall. 

W. C. Ireland. 



LOUISIANA— 16 Delegates. 



John McEnery. 
Patrick Meallie. 



W. A. Strong. 
Chas. Parlange. 



National Democratic Convention. 



bb 



District. 

1st John Fitzpatrick. 

Thomas Duffy. 
2d E. A. Burke. 

J. W. Patten. 
3d J. L. Brent. 

John Clegg. 



District. 

4th James Jeffries. 

Samuel M. Morrison, 
5th G. VV. McCranie. 

John C. Goldman. 
6th M. D. Kavanagh. 

William Duncan. 



MAINE— 14 Delegates. 



Darius Alden. 
John B. Redman. 

District . 

1st William G. Davis. 

Ephraim C. Spinney. 
2d J. S. Lyford. 

S. C. Belcher. 
3d S. S. Brown. 

Jos. E. Moore. 



Arthur Sewall. 
Bion Brad I jury. 

District. 

4th Stephen Jennings. 

John B. Trafton. 
5th A. McNichol. 

J. Fred. Merrell. 



MARYLAND— 16 Delegates. 



Pinkney Whyte. 
Philip F. Thomas. 

District. 

1st Richard Hynson. 

E. E. Jackson. 
2d Charles B. Roberts. 

Wilniot Johnson. 
3d George Colton. 

James Bond. 



John Lee Carroll, 
Bernard Carter. 

District. 

4th , John W. Davis. 

William Keyser. 
5th Barnes Compton. 

John T. Bond. 
6th..... L. Victor Baughman. 

L. Cass Smith. 



MASSACHUSETTS— 26 Delegates. 
(Faneuil Hall Delegation.) 

Josiah G. Abbott. George W. Gill. 

Patrick A. Collins. Reuben Xoble. 

Alternate— Horace C. Bacon. 



District. 

1st N. Hathaway. 

Southard Potter. 
2d Edw. Avery. 

Jos. T. Hartt. 
3d Michael Doherty. 

Tim. J. Leary. 
4th Fred. 0. Prince. 

Chas. L. Woodbury. 
5th Chas. G. Clark. 

S. K. Hamilton. 
6th Chas. A. Ropes. 

Eliphalet Griffin. 



District . 

7th Patrick Murphy. 

A. L. Fesaenden. 
8th L. Saltonstall. 

Wm. E. Plummer. 
9th J. E. Esterbrook. 

Geo. F. Verry 
10th F. J. Pratt. 

Leander Sprague 
11th T. W. Hull. 

D. D. Warren. 



56 



Official Proceedings of the 



(Mechanics Hall Delegation.) 



Jonas H. Frencb. 
John K. Tarbox. 

District. 

1st John A. Coffee. 

Philander Cobb. 
2d A. C. Drinkwater. 

Bushrod Morse. 
3d John F. McMahon. 

Isaac Eosnoskey. 
4th Wm. Taylor. 

H. L. Collamore. 
5th Wm. C. Thompson. 

A. E. Thompson. 
6tb...; J. J. McCafferty. 

E. B. Pierce. 



M. J. McCafferty. 
David Power. 

District. 

7th A. A. Haggett. 

John P. Sweeney. 
8th J. J. McDavitt, 

P. J. Breen. 
9th Geo. R. Spurr. 

John R. Thayer. 
10th Wm. J. Sheehan. 

N. A. Plympton. 
11th Chas. M. Welden. 

J. M. Ely. 



Alternates Present — R. C. Taylor, A. C. Wood worth. 
MICHIGAN— 22 Delegates. 



Don M. Dickinson. 
( ). M. Barnes. 

District. 

1st ...E. F. Conely. 

Matt. Kramer. 
2d Beth Bean. 

Chas. H. Richmond. 
3d..... L.D. Dibble. 

A. J. Bowne. 
4th B. Frankenburg. 

A. J. Shakespeare. 
5th A. B. Morse. 

Geo. C. Stewart. 



Isaac E. Messmore. 
Foster Pratt. 

District. 

6th B. G. Stout. 

J. W. Turner. 
7th J. N. Mellen. 

A. M. Clark. 
8th R. F. Sprague. 

A. W. Comstock. 
9th John Powers. 

H. F. Alexander. 



MINNESOTA— 10 Delegates. 



P. H. 

istrict. 


Kelly. 

District. 






st H. W. Lamberton. 


2d 




....J. C. Pierce. 


H. R. Welles. 








J. J. Thornton. 


3d.. 




....Robert A. Smith 


d R. H. Everett. 






L. A. Evans. 


L. L. Baxter. 






W. W. McNair. 


MISSISSIPPI— 16 Delegates. 


E. C. Walthall. 


W. 


S. Featherston. 


E. Barksdale. 




W 


A. Percy. 



National Democratic Convention. 



District. 

1st W. H. H. Tison. 

E. H. Bristow. 
2d R. H.Taylor. 

John T. Murray. 
3d Robert C. Patty. 

8. M. Roane. 



District. 

4th S. S. Carter. 

R. L. Henderson. 
5th P. K. Myers. 

J. P. Withers. 
6th Warren COwan . 

W. T. Martin. 



MISSOURI— 30 Delegates. 



Silas Woodson. 
Wm. Hyde. 

District. 

1st Frank Harris. 

Given Campbell. 
2d C. W. Francis. 

Joseph Pulitzer. 
3d Daniel Kerwin. 

James Carroll. 
4th C. D. Yancey. 

J. P. Walker. 
5th J. W. Booth. 

L. B. Wood side. 
6th E. P. Linzee. 

C. H. Morgan. 
7th W. B. Steele. 

John Cosgrove. 

NEBRASKA 

George L. Miller. 
James E. North. 
R. 8. Moloney, Sr. 



Geo. G. Vest. 
John O'Day. 
District. 
8th H. M. Mumford. 

Wallace Pratt. 
9th James Craig. 

J. M. Riley. 
10th B. F. Dillon. 

J. B. Xailor. 
11th W. S. Jackson. 

T. B. Nesbitt. 
12th H.D.Marshall. 

W. R. McQuoid. 
13th Nat. C. Dryden. 

James P. Wood. 



— 6 Delegates. 



J. Sterling Morton. 
John W. Pollock. 
F. A. Harm an. 



NEVADA— 6 Delegates. 



A. C. Ellis. 

E. B. Stonehill. 

F. F. Hilp. 



Matt. Canavan. 
J. C. Hagerman, 
George Story. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE— 10 Delegates. 



Harry Bingham. 
John H. George. 



District. 

1st.... 



2d. 



.Geo. N. Proctor. 
C. s. Busiel. 
. A. \V. Sulloway. 
T. B. Crowley. 



District . 

3d 



Frank Jones. 

M. V. R. Edgerley. 



H. \\. Parker. 
Irving W. Drew. 



58 



Official Proceedings of the 



NEW JERSEY— 18 Delegates. 



John P. Stockton. 
C. Meyer Zulick. 
District. 
1st Chas. S. Ridgway. 

Robert Newell. 
2d Rufus Blodgett. 

Wm. P. McMichael. 
3d Robert S. Green. 

Jos. I. Thompson. 
4th Alvah A. Clark. 

Lewis Cochran. 



Orestes Cleveland. 
Hezekiah B. Smith. 

District. 

5th Henry D. Winton. 

James S. Coleman. 
6th Gottfried Krueger. 

Lawrence G. Fell. 
7th E. P. C.Lewis. 

Jeremiah H. Sweeny. 



NEW YORK— 70 Delegates. 



Lucius Robinson. 
Rufus W. Peckham. 



Calvin E. Pratt. 
Lester B. Faulkner. 



ALTERNATES. 



William H. Henderson. 
Emanuel B. Hart. 

District. 

1st Benj. W. Downing. 

Alexander Moran. 
2d William D. Veeder. 

John J. Kiernan. 
3d AVm. C. Kingsley. 

James F. Pierce. 
4th Archibald M. Bliss. 

John C. Jacobs. 
5th John Fox. 

Michael Norton. 
6th Peter Bowe. 

Charles Reilly. 
7th Bernard Kenney. 

John Tyler Kelly. 
8th Timothy Shea. 

Edward Cooper. 
9th John E. Devlin. 

John R. Fellows. 
10th Andrew H. Green. 

William A. Butler. 
11th William C. Whitney. 

Perer B. Olney. 
12th William Cauldwell. 

Henry C. Nelson. 
13th James D. Little. 

John O'Brien. 
14th William M. Murray. 

George M. Beebe. 



James F. Starbuck. 
Hoswell A. Parmenter. 

District. 

15th Manley B. Mattice. 

Aug. Schoonmaker. 
16th Daniel Manning. 

Michael N. Nolan. 
17th Edward Murphy, Jr. 

Charles Hughes. 
18th Smith M. Weed. 

Stephen Brown. 
19th William H. Sawyer. 

William P. CantwelL 
20th.... Stephen Dunn. 

John D. Campbell. 
21st Samuel A. Bowen. 

Elliott Danforth. 
22d Dennis O'Brien. 

George W. Smith. 
23d J. Thomas Spriggs. 

Albert N. Bort. 

24th William A. Poucher, 

• Lucius P. Clark. 
25th John W.Yale. 

Orris U. Kellogg. 
26tb ..........William J. Moses. 

John S. Rich. 
27th Frank Rice. 

Oliver G. Shearman. 
28th ..Gilbert C. Walker. 

Samuel D. Halliday. 



National Democratic Convention. 



59 



2!)tl) 



30th. 



Francis G. Babcock. 

R vwson H. Gwinnip. 
George Brown, Jr. 

Frederick Cook. 
31st W. S. Wright. 

O. W. Cutler. 



32 Daniel N. Lockwood. 

John M. VViley. 
33d Wm. M. Lester. 

Wilber W. Henry. 



NORTH CAROLINA— 20 Delegates. 



W. T. Dortch. 
Thos. Ruffin. 

District. 

1st T. G. Skinner. 

Geo. H. Brown, Jr. 
2d Geo. Howard. 

J. A. Bonitz. 
3d C. M. Stedman. 

W. F. Howland. 
4th A. W. Graham. 

B. H. Bunn. 



A. M. Waddell. 
J. S. Henderson. 

District. 

5th John N. Staples. 

J. A. Long. 
6th P. B. Means. 

R. L. Steele. 
7th Charles Price. 

G. M. Mathes. 
8th R. M. Furman. 

S. McD. Tate. 



OHIO— 44 Delegates. 



J. H. Wade. 
J. B. Steadman. 

District 

1st George Hoadly. 

Julius Reis. 
2d Alex. Long. 

Chas. W. Baker. 
3d M. H. Davis. 

Jas. E. Xeal. 
4th Jno. V. Campbell. 

\V. J. Alexander. 
5th Chas. Boesel. 

W. D. Hill. 
6th E. D. Potter, Jr. ' 

Jno. \Y. Nelson. 
7th W. W. Ellsberry. 

L. T. Xeal. 
8th W. H. Dugdale. 

S J. Packer, 
yth John I). Thompson. 

Frank Marriott. 
10th Geo. \V. Roberts. 

Wm. E. Haynes. 

OREGON— 6 

John Myers. 
\. A. Fink. 
W. H. Effinger. 



Durbin Ward. 
John McSweeney. 
District. 
11th.. , J. P. Aleshire. 

J. W. Newman. 
12th John G. Thompson 

C. D. Martin. 
13th John O'Neal. 

J. H. Barrett. 
14th T.J. Kenney. 

S. Clements. 
15th Henry Bohl. 

John Shreiner. 
16th Dan. McConville. 

C. C. Lewis. 
17th R.M. Schields. 

Chas. M. Schmick. 
18th D. R. Page. 

N. L. Johnson. 
19th R. K. Page. 

D. L. Coleman. 
20th W. W . Armstrong. 

John H. Farley. 

Delegated. 



J. W. Windom. 
A. Xoltner. 
F. P. Hogan. 



60 



Official Proceedings of the 



PENNSYLVANIA— 58 Delegates. 



William S. Stenger. 
Daniel Dougherty. 

District. 

1st George McGowan. 

Dallas Sanders. 
2d John R. Eead. 

R. P. Dechert. 
3d Thos. J. Barger. 

Wm. McMullin. 
4th Henry Donohue. 

Samuel Josephs. 
5th Frederick Gerker. 

E. H. Flood. 

6th John H. Brinton. 

J. L. Forwood. 
7th Herman Yerkes. 

J. Wright Apple. 
8th Daniel Ermentrout. 

Thomas J. Fisher. 
9th W. U. Hensel. 

B. J. McGrann. 
10th William H. Sowden. 

Henry W. Scott. 
11th David Lowenberg 

R. S. Staples. 
12th R. Bruce Ricketts. 

F. J. Fitzsimmons. 
13th J. B. Reilly. 

James Ellis. 

14th B. F. Meyers. 

Grant Weidman. 



AVilliam L Scott. 
Lewis C. Casidy. 

District. 

15th Robert A. Packer. 

L. Gramp. 
16th John J. Metzger. 

Henry Sherwood. 
1 7th Augustus S. Landis. 

Wm. J. Baer. 
18th C. M. Duncan. 

D. M. Crawford. 
19th Chauncey F. Black. 

William McSherry. 
20th Edward Bigler. 

J. A. Cassanova. 
21st Edgar Cowan. 

Charles A. Boyle. 
22d John B. Larkin. 

E. A. Wood. 
23d Malcolm Hay. 

C. F. McKenna. 
24th G. W. Miller. 

Wm. Gordon. 
25th J. B. Knox. 

G. A. Jenks. 
26th J. B. Brawley. 

L. McQuiston. 
27th George A. Allen. 

H. B. Plummer. 



RHODE ISLAND— 8 Delegates. 



Abner J. Barnaby. 


John J. Dempsey. 


Charles H. Page. 


John Waters. 


Wm. F. Teston. 


Wm. F. Segar. 


Nicholas Van Slyck. 


Philip Duffy. 


SOUTH CAROLIN 


A — 14 Delegates. 


Wade Hampton. 


John Bratton. 


M. C. Butler. 


T. G. Barker. 


District. 


District. 


1st C. S. McCall. 


4th F. A. Connor. 


J. H. Earle. 


W. C. Cleveland 


2d F. W. Dawson. 


5th T. G. Davies. 


Samuel Dibble. 


Alfred Aldrich. 


3d B. F. Whitner. 




John R. Abney. 


i 



National Democratic Convention. 



61 



TENNESSEE— 24 Delegates. 



James D. Porter. 
Thomas O'Connor. 

District. 

1st John A. McKinney. 

John Allison, Jr. 
2d Wm. L. Welker. 

Moses White. 
3d J. B. Cooke. 

S. E. Cunningham. 
4th R. L. C. White. 

John A. Fite. 
5th W. R. Butler. 

J. B. Lamb. 



J. W. Childress, Jr. 
W. H. Carroll. 

District. 

6th John Overton. 

Nathan Brandon, 
7th Thos. M. Jones. 

D. B. Cooper. 
8th S. A. Champion. 

John M. Taylor. 
9th T. J. Edwards. 

S. Hill. 
10th J. M. Keating. 

Alfred McNeal. 



TEXAS— 16 Delegates. 



District 

1st.... 



Jas. W. Throckmorton. 
Richard B. Hubbar;. 



Thomas M. Jack. 
John Ireland. 



E. C. Bower. 



W. S. Herndon. 

J. II. Jones. 
2d J. Q. Chenoworth. 

J. B. Lipscomb. 
3d Thornton E. Shirley. 

B. B. Paddock. 



District. 

4th J. C. Hutchinson. 

B. H. Davis. 
5th B. H. Basset't. 

John Hancock. 
6th Joseph E. Dwyer. 

F. S. Stockdale. 



VERMONT— 10 Delegates. 



Lucius Robineon. 
L. W. Redington. 

District. 

1st B. P. White. 

M. C. Huling. 
2d D. C. Pollard. 

X. F. Bowman. 





B. 


E. 


Smalley. 




J. 


H 


Williams. 


District. 








3d 






...F. M. McGettuck. 
Geo. L. Waterman 



VIRGINIA— 22 Delegates. 



District. 
1st 



William Terry. 
John W. Daniel. 



\. W. Wallace. 

W. A. Jones. 

2d rames F. Crocker. 

Thomas Tabb. 

3d Wm. L. Royall. 

, E. C. Minor. 



James Barbour. 
Michael Glennan. 

District. 

4th Chas. E. Stringfellow. 

Win. E. Green. 
5th G. W. B. Hale. 

T. J. Talbott. 
6th W. P. Johnston. 

Thos. 8. Bocock. 



62 



Official Proceedings of the 



7th James Bumgardner. 9th. 

W. B. Pettit. 
8th K. W. Hunter. 

Alexander Payne. 



.Daniel Trigg. 
J. D. Johnston. 



WEST VIRGINIA— 10 Delegates. 



Henry G. Davis. 
Eobert McEldowney. 

District. 

1st J. H. Goode. 

W. P. Thompson: 
2d Win. L. Wilson. 

James Morrow, Jr. 



B. F. Harlowe. 

C. P. Eastham. 

District. 

3d C. P. Snyder. 

H. C. Simms. 



WISCONSIN— 20 Delegates. 



Jas. G. Jenkins. 
T. R. Hudd. 

District. 

1st Anson Rogers. 

H. M. Ackley. 
2d J. C. Gregory. 

J. S. Tripp. 
3d . . , George Krouskop. 

J. M. Smith. 
4th Adolph. Zimmerman . 

Edward Keogh. 



Wm. F. Vilas. 
Geo. W. Cate. 
District. 
5th Joseph Rankin. 

Wm. Elwell. 
6th E. P. Finch. 

V. Mashek. 
7th Wm. T. Galloway. 

G. M. Woodward. 
8th John Ringle. 

T. J. Cunningham. 



PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. 

Mr. Martin, of Delaware: I now renew my motion to adopt 
the report of the Committee on Permanent Organization. 

The Chair: The question now before the house is the motion 
of the Delegate irom Delaware, Mr. Martin, to adopt the report 
and resolution of the Committee on Permanent Organization. 

The motion was carried unanimously. 

The Chair : The Chair will designate as the Committee to 
escort the Permanent President to his seat, the following gentle- 
men : Senator Joseph E. McDonald, of Indiana; Senator M. C. 
Butler, of South Carolina; Major Thomas O'Connor, of Tennessee. 
The Committee will perform their duty at once. 

The Committee named escorted Hon. John W. 
Stevenson, the Permanent President, to the platform 
and presented him to the Chairman, who said: 



National Democratic Convention. 63 

The Chair : I have the honor to present to the Convention 
its elected President, and to commit to his hands this symbol of 
its government ; and into hands more worthy such symbol could 
not be given. 

(The Chairman then handed the gavel to the Presi- 
dent.) 

The President on assuming the Chair addressed the 
Convention as follows: » 

ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN W, STEVENSON. 

Gentlemen of the National Democratic Convention: I am 
profoundly sensible of the honor and responsibility of this high 
trust as a mark of your personal and political confidence. I can 
find no words in which to express my deep sense of your par- 
tiality in this unlooked for distinction. But I know better than 
any man can know, that I am not indebted for it on account of 
any personal merit of my own. I knqw full well that it is a 
tribute to that gallant old Commonwealth from which I come, 
for her unwavering devotion amidst tempest and calm, sunshine 
and storm, to the Democratic principles of the Constitution of the 
United States. In the name therefore, of the Democracy of Ken- 
tucky, from the Big Sandy to the Mississippi, from the Ohio to 
the Cumberland Gap, in their name I return you their thanks 
for calling one of the humblest of her sons to preside over your 
deliberations. 

Representative men of the Democratic party, I welcome you to 
Cincinnati. I greet you in this Grand Council assembled, where 
you come from every State and every Territory, to take counsel 
together for the preservation of the constitution and the per- 
petuation of free principles. There is joy in your coming. I see 
in the mass of uplifted faces before me a determination that the 
flag which you shall put out shall be borne triumphantly to 
victor}\ Gentlemen, there is a local association in places; we 
all feel it; we all know it. Our blood is stirred, our hearts are 
moved when we come to places connected with any great and 
glorious achievements of the paf-t ; and I see before me many well- 
known faces who, twenty-four years ago, met in the Democratic 
Council in this city, and who put out a ticket and entrusted it to 
two grand leaders, the last that the Democratic party ever elected, 
who took their seats. And I feel that what you did at Cincinnati 
twenty-four years ago. you intend to do to-day. 



64 Official Proceedings of the 

Representative men, the flag which you shall unfurl will only 
contain the tenets of the Democratic faith which were announced 
nearly a hundred years ago. There must be political parties 
in every free government. They are the outgrowth of diverse 
policies and opposing views of the construction of this blessed 
constitution of ours, which in 1789 established this government; 
and from that day almost to this, you have had these opposing 
parties in the American Republic. They began in 1792. They 
were continued in 1801. And that contest which elevated to the 
Presidency the author of our great charter of American freedom, 
was but a contest of popular rights against arbitrary power. 
Thomas Jefferson sleeps in the mountain solitude of his own 
Montecello; but the principles to which he consecrated his life, 
and which he illustrated in his administration, of which you are 
the chosen representatives, still survive in the hearts of his fol- 
lowers. Parties may change, men may change, principles rarely 
ever change. It was at that trying crisis that our rulers sought 
to deny their responsibility to the people. They attempted to 
deny free discussion of their acts ; and though editors were im- 
prisoned, and fines imposed, the people triumphed and Thomas 
Jefferson was elected. And there were men in that day, as in 
this, who tried to prevent Thomas Jefferson from taking his 
office ; and I am sorry to see that there are men now who trample 
upon the popular will, and would attempt, and have successfully 
attempted, to deprive men elevated to these high offices, from 
enjoying the confidence of the people. We enter upon the twenty- 
fourth Presidential election, since the organizationof the govern- 
ment. You put forth your declaration of political faith, as it 
always has been, and still is. We believe that this is a limited 
government, and that no power not granted by the constitution 
can be exercised by that government. We believe in a free press ; 
we believe in popular education ; we believe and declare that this 
people will stand no taxation not demanded by an economical 
administration of the government. But above all, we believe 
that representation rests on suffrage, and that every suffrage 
must be preserved and must be guarded, and that every vote 
when cast must be counted; and that those who receive the ma- 
jority of these votes must and shall be installed in the offices to 
which they have been elected. 

Four years ago the people of the United States elected two 
distinguished citizens, President and Vice-President of these 
United States. They were not allowed to exercise the duties of 



National Democratic Convention. 6-5 

that high position. They were not allowed justly and legally to 
execute the duties of President and Vice President. But, fellow- 
citizens, it was not a personal outrage. Great as the grievance 
was to your selected candidates, it was a greater grievance to the 
constitution of these United States. Every citizen of the United 
States exercises his aliquot part of sovereignty when he casts his 
vote for his representative. And when you fail to guard the 
right of suffrage, to see that those who receive a majority shall 
be elevated to the high trusts to which you have called them, 
when this is prevented either by force or by fraud, then you cease 
to be the constitutional Republic of these United States. 

Mr. Tilden and Mr. Hendricks preferred to give up the high 
offices to which they had been called, rather than by revolu- 
tionary and bloody struggle to give comfort to those who denied 
the right of the people to self-government. And while the states- 
man of New York and his compeer, the statesman of Indiana, 
have acquiesced in that government, they have done it to prove 
what the Democrats have always said, " ready obedience to law is 
essential to the preservation of liberty." Although they did not 
enjoy the high honor to which they had been elected, I can say 
in the language of the poet — 

"More real joy, Marcellus exiled feels, 
Than Csesar, with a senate at his heels." 

Fellow-citizens, you have the high privilege of resenting that 
wrong committed upon the constitution of the United States. 
And you will be recreant to the high behests of the party, whose 
representatives you are, if you do not put forth a ticket that shall 
sweep this country from one end to the other. I beseech you, 
therefore, to rise above the mist of prejudice or of personal par- 
tiality. There is not a State in this Union that can not furnish 
you half a dozen candidates who will bear your flag to victory. 
And I feel and I know, I see it in your faces, I realize it, that 
you come here to subordinate everything to principle and success. 
The people want a change. They are tired of misrule. They are 
tired of interference with the popular right of suffrage. They 
are sickened and disgusted with the military force which is kept 
to coerce men at the polls. They are tired of onerous taxation ; 
and all that you have to do, my friends, gentlemen of the Demo- 
cratic party, is to nominate two tried, enlightened, pure and 
experienced Democrats, who every inch shall be patriots worthy 
of the support of yourselves and worthy of the support of the 
country. That I know you will do. 
5 



66 Official Proceedings of the 

Not attempting to delay you longer, I close with the simple 
appeal to let your nominees be men who will draw a ready 
acclaim of triumphant joy from every Delegate, and from every 
Democrat in the United States. 

The Chair: I am requested to state that Mr. Watterson, of 
Kentucky, the Chairman of the Committee, will meet the Com- 
mittee on Resolutions in the committee room in the rear of this 
building immediately. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky : As the Committee on Reso- 
lutions is not ready to report, I move that we proceed to the busi- 
ness which brought us here — to the nomination of candidates for 
President and Vice-President. 

Mr. Baughman, of Maryland : Before proceeding to the regular 
order of business, as one of the representatives of the young De- 
mocracy that are assembled in this great hall of the Democratic 
National Convention, which has been called here, sir, for the pur- 
pose of nominating the next President of these United States, I 
desire in their behalf to return their thanks for the able and im- 
partial manner in which the Temporary President of this Con- 
vention has discharged the onerous duties imposed upon him. 
Seldom, sir, in the history of any Convention comprising the 
numbers, the respectability, such as we have spread out before us, 
has a presiding officer ever had a more important and responsi- 
ble charge committed to his. fidelity to truth and justice. In 
carrying out the promises he made, discord has been at an end; 
peace and quiet have ruled throughout our deliberations. There- 
fore, sir, in the name of the Convention, I move you, that the 
unanimous vote of thanks of the Convention be tendered to the 
Temporary Chairman who has taken his seat. 

The Chair : The Chair would state that a resolution has been 
placed in his hands by Mr. Plummer, of Massachusetts, carrying 
out the suggestion of the gentleman from Maryland. The Clerk 
will read the resolution. 

The Clerk then read the following resolution offered 
by Mr. Plmnmer, of Massachusetts: 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered to 
the Hon. George Hoadly for his able and impartial performance 
of the arduous duties of Temporary Chairman. 



National Democratic Convention. 67 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky : I suppose, sir, that having 
obtained the floor first, the motion made by me is first in order; 
but as I cordially agree with what has been said by my friend on 
the left, and with the resolution, I second the resolution and with- 
draw my motion temporarily, with the understanding that I am 
to have the floor to renew it as soon as that resolution is adopted. 

The Chair : The question is on the adoption of the resolution. 
The resolution was unanimously adopted. 

Mr. Hoadly, of Ohio : Let me thank the Convention first, for 
this kind approval of a service so slight that I wonder at your 
vote; and I have to congratulate you upon the opportunity you 
will have, when my friend shall have finished his work, of pass- 
ing another similar resolution, much more deserved. I thank you. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky : Mr. Chairman, I don't sup- 
pose any Convention ever did have two such Chairmen as we 
have been favored with. Now, sir, I move that we proceed to the 
business of nominating a candidate for President of the United 

States. 

Mr. Baughman, of Maryland : I move j^ou, that owing to the 
long period that we have been in session, we do now adjourn. 

This motion was lost. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky : Upon the suggestion of some 
of my friends, I want to add to the motion, that the mode of nomi- 
nation shall be that the Secretary of the Convention shall call 
the roll of States, and that as each State is called, if any gentle- 
man in that State desires to make or second any nomination, he 
shall have the opportunity to do so. It is also suggested that I 
add to the motion that each gentleman be given five minutes ; but 
it seems to me that the virtues of our candidates are so numerous 
that they can not be enumerated in five minutes. I therefore 
will say ten minutes. 

Mr. Preston, of Kentucky : I move to amend the resolution 
offered by my friend, that the seconding may come from another 
State instead of that of the gentleman making the nomination. 

Mr. Breckinridge : I accept the amendment. 

The Chair : The question pending before the Convention is 
the adoption of the amended motion of the gentleman from Ken- 
tucky, that the Convention proceed to the nomination of a candi- 



68 Official Proceedings of the 

date for President of the United States, the States being called 
and each State announcing its nominee, 

Mr. Hoadly, of Ohio : I move that the motion be laid on the 
table until after the platform has been adopted. 

Mr. J. G. Abbott, of Massachusetts : As I understand the mo- 
tion of the gentleman from Kentucky, it is to proceed to nomina- 
tions and not to ballot. We can proceed to nominations, and after 
we have made our nominations we can make our selection of the 
platform to put our nominee on. 

The Chair: The gentleman from Kentucky moves that we 
proceed to nominations, the States being called on his motion to 
nominate, and each State naming its nominee. The gentleman 
from Ohio moves to lay this motion of the gentleman from Ken- 
tucky on the table. 

Mr. Hoadly, of Ohio: I desire the permission of the Conven- 
tion to withdraw my motion. 

The Chair : As there is no objection to his withdrawing his 
motion permission is accorded him. 

Mr. M. Hay, of Pennsylvania: I desire, sir, before the vote is 
taken upon this motion to make a substitution of a Delegate, 
Mr. R. Milton Speer, and substituting in his place Mr. Daniel 
Dougherty. 

The Chair : Is there any objection ? The Chair hears none. 
The substitute is recognized. The question now recurs on the 
adoption of the motion of the gentleman from Kentucky, to pro- 
ceed to nominations of candidates for President of the United 
States. 

This motion was carried. 

The Chair: Gentlemen will nominate by States. The Secre- 
tary will proceed to call the roll of States. As each State is called 
the Chairman of the Delegation from that State will announce 
distinctly the name of the nominee of that State for President. 

Mr. Speer, of Pennsylvania : I move that when the name of 
each State is called, if the State has a nominee, that the gentle- 
man who is to present his name shall be invited to the platform 
to do it. 

The Chair : I will take it upon myself to invite him. 



National Democratic Convention. 69 

The Clerk then proceeded to call the roll of States : 

Alabama — The Chairman of the Delegation announces that 
Alabama has no nomination to make. 

Arkansas — The Chairman of the Delegation makes a similar 
announcement. 

California — 

Mr. J. E. McElrath having a nomination to make for 
California, proceeded to the platform. 

The Chair: I present to the Convention Mr. McElrath, of 
California. 

ADDRESS OF MR. J. E. M'ELRATH. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention: We 
have met on this occasion, — an occasion to be forever memorable 
in the annals of the Democratic party, — for the purpose of nomi- 
nating the next President of the United States. And why, let 
me ask, is this vast hall filled with representatives from the peo- 
ple from all the States? Is it not that we may, by our actions 
this day, preserve for ourselves and our children, and transmit 
to a remote posterity the blessings of a republican government? 
This it is that has called us together. We are intensified in our 
purpose to accomplish the ends I have mentioned, because we are 
justified in believing that the policy of the Republican party 
will, if continued, ultimately subvert the principles upon which 
the government was founded, under which it has grown great 
and prosperous, and by the maintenance of which it can alone 
continue in its glory and in its advancement. To achieve these 
great results we must continue in the pathway of the fathers who 
founded the Republic. We want an indestructible Union com- 
posed of indestructible States. We want the general government 
to exercise only the powers that have been expressly delegated 
to it, and such others as by a fair construction of the constitution 
are necessary to carry out those delegated pow r ers. Within its 
proper sphere we want it honestly administered. We shall never 
again suffer the Legislature of a sovereign State to be invaded 
and its members arrested by military despotism. We would not 
have our congressmen in the future embark in corrupt schemes, 
nor would we wish to elevate any man to high position who had 
been removed from public office for the reform and purification 
of the civil service. We want purity, judicial purity in the 
Executive department of the country. 



70 Official Proceedings of the 

It has been said that ' westward the star of empire takes its 
course." And now, Fellow-Delegates, from beyond the summits 
of the Rocky Mountains, from that great far West, a country that 
was given to the Union by a Democratic administration, we come 
here to present the name of one of her sons as a candidate for the 
highest office on earth. New England nurtured his infancy, and 
California developed his manhood. Gentlemen of Connecticut, 
he is the son of your own soil. Californians, he is to you what 
Justinian was to the Romans. Virginians, sons of the Old Do- 
minion, gentlemen of the suffering South, he threw around you 
the mighty shield of his country's constitution. Removing to 
California at a time when that great State was in its early in- 
fancy, he gave to her salutary and beneficent laws. To him, 
the poor man of the Pacific Slope owes protection from forced sale 
of the cottage and the roof that shelters his family, and the miner 
that toils in the mines owes to him the protection of his pick 
from the rapacity of his creditors. He has shaped the laws of 
that great State; they have been adopted by those great Terri- 
tories in the West, that in due time are to be brilliant stars in 
the galaxy of States. He is not only the founder of States but 
also the preserver of States. Appointed to the Supreme Court of 
the United States as a Democrat, at a time when the country was 
in the desperate throes of civil war, he holds a commission from 
President Lincoln as an evidence to his devotion to the Union. 
On that bench he has been as pure and upright as Lord Hale ; 
he has expounded the law with the logic of Marshall, and with 
an ability greater than that of Brougham. He has been a great 
lawyer in his profession; he has also protected the minister of 
religion in his holy calling. 

Finally, gentlemen of the Convention, he imbibed his princi- 
ples from the teachings of that great apostle of Democracy who 
sleeps at Monticello. He has executed them as fearlessly as the 
hero and the sage of the hermitage. If nominated by this Conven- 
tion he will sweep California like the winds that blow through 
her golden gates. 

Now, gentlemen of the Convention, I have the honor to place 
in nomination for the Presidency of the United States, Hon. 
Stephen J. Field, of California. He is a man without fear and 
without reproach ; he is the embodiment of sound Democratic 
sentiments; he possesses all of the elements that a Democrat 
should require ; and on the Pacific Coast, Oregon and Nevada ask 



National Democratic Convention. 71 

with us the unanimous vote for this child of the great West. I 
thank you, gentlemen, for your attention. 

The Chair : The name of Stephen J. Field, of California, is in 
nomination for the office of President. The Clerk will proceed 
with the call. 

The Clerk called Colorado and Mr. S. E. Brown, of 
Colorado, addressed the Convention as follows : 

ADDRESS OF MR. S. E. BROWN. 

Mr. Chairman : In behalf of the Delegation from Colorado, I 
am instructed to second the nomination of the Hon. Stephen J. 
Field, of California. We are not impelled to this course by the 
affinity of neighborhood. Our State sits on the apex of the conti- 
nent; her golden sands roll equally to the Orient and the Occi- 
dent, and her rivers, like her political sentiments flow equally to 
the North and to the South. We second this nomination because 
the subject of our nomination like the chevalier Bayard, is with- 
out fear and without reproach, a statesman and jurist, qualified 
to interpret and execute the laws. When four years ago we 
elected that patriot and statesman, Samuel J. Tilden, President 
of the United States, and when the Republican party had ex- 
hausted fraud, perjury, and forgery to count him out, they devised 
the scheme of an eminent commission which will be known in 
history, if not with the odor of sanctity, as the " Eight to Seven 
Commission." To the immortal seven of this commission belongs 
Stephen J. Field. To the immoral eight belongs James A. Gar- 
field. Nominate Judge Field, and as sure as the justice of heaven 
is sleepless, and as the voice of the people is the voice of God, we 
must and shall succeed. 

When the State of Delaware was called Mr. Sauls- 
bury of that State said: 

Mr. Saulsbury : Mr. President, Delaware has a candidate for 
this Convention, whose name will now be presented by the Hon. 
George Gray. 

The Chair: The Chair has the pleasure of presenting to the 
Convention Mr. Gray, of Delaware. 

ADDRESS OF MR. GEORGE GRAY. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I am 
instructed by the Delaware Delegation to make on their behalf 



72 Official Proceedings of the 

a nomination for the Presidency of the United States. Small in 
territory and in population, Delaware is proud of her history and 
her position in the sisterhood of the States. Always devoted to 
the principles of that great party which maintains the equality 
of the rights of the State as well as of the individual citizens, 
she is here to-day to do all that in her lies for the advancement 
of our common cause. 

Who will best lead the Democratic hosts in the impending 
struggle for the restoration of honest government, and the consti- 
tutional rights of the States and their people, is the important 
question that we are here to-day to decide. Delaware is not 
blinded by her affections, when she presents to this Convention 
as a candidate for this great trust, the name of her gallant son, 
Thomas Francis Bayard. He is no carpet knight rashly put 
forth by us, to flesh a maiden sword in this great contest. He is 
a veteran, covered with the scars of many a hard fought battle, 
where the principles of constitutional liberty have been at stake, 
in an arena where the giants of radicalism were his foes; and his 
bruised arms not hung up, but wielded still with a stalwart arm 
and burnished bright are the monuments of his prowess. 

Thomas Francis Bayard is a statesman who will need no intro- 
duction to the Ameripan people. His name and record are known 
wherever our flag floats, aye, wherever the English tongue is 
spoken. His is no sectional fame. With sympathies as broad as 
this great continent, a private character as spotless as the snow 
from heaven, a judgment as clear as the sunlight, an intellect as 
keen and bright as a flashing sabre, honest in thought and deed, 
the people all know him by heart, and as I said before, need not 
be told who and what he is. 

But you, gentlemen of the Convention, you who with me have 
a common duty to perform, of keeping in view the success that is 
so important to be achieved next November, pray consider with 
me, for a moment, the elements of his strength. Who, more than 
/he, will, as a candidate, appeal to the best traditions of our party 
and of our country? In whom, more than in him, will the busi- 
ness interests of this great country, now re-awakening to new 
life and hope, confide for the security and repose which shall send 
capital and labor forth like twin brothers, hand in hand, in the 
great work of building up our country's prosperity, and advanc- 
ing her civilization? Who, better than he, will represent the 
heart and intellect of our great party, or give better expression 
to its highest and noblest aspirations? Who will draw more 



National Democratic Convention. 73 

largely upon the honest and reflecting independent voters than 
he, whose very name is a synonym for honest and fearless opposi- 
tion to corruption in every form and everywhere, and who has 
dared to follow the straight path that he thought the path of 
duty, with a chivalrous devotion that never counted personal 
danger ? Who has contributed more than Mr. Bayard to the com- 
manding strength of the Democratic party of the United States 
to-dav ? Blot out him and his influence, and who will not feel 
and mourn the loss ? 

Pardon Delaware if she says too much. She speaks in no dis- 
paragement of the distinguished and illustrious Democrats whose 
names sparkle like stars in our political firmament ; she honors 
them all; but she knows her son, and her heart will speak. 
Nominate him, gentlemen of the Convention, and success is 
/ assured. His very name will be a platform. It will fire every 
Democratic heart with new zeal, and will place a sword in the 
hands of every honest man to drive from place and power the 
reckless men who have held both for four years against the ex- 
pressed will of the American people. Do not tell us that you 
admire, esteem, and love him, but that he is unavailable. Tell 
the county that the sneer of Republican enemies is a lie, and 
that such a man as Thomas Francis Bayard is not too good a man 
to receive the highest honors of the Democratic party. Take the 
whole people into your confidence ; and tell them an honest and 
patriotic party is to be led by as pure a man as God ever made; 
that a brave party is to be led by a brave man, whose courage 
will not falter, whatever may be the danger or whatever the 
emergency. Tell them that our party has the courage of its con- 
victions ; that statesmanship, ability and honesty are to be reali- 
ties once more in the government of these United States, and the 
nomination of Thomas F. Bayard will fall like a benediction, and 
will be the presage of a victory that in November will sweep 
from the gulf to the lakes, and from ocean to ocean. 

The Chair : The name of Hon. Thomas F. Bayard is in nomi- 
nation for the office of President of the United States. 

A Delegate : Would not the second come more properly after 
each nomination? 

The Chair : The rule requires that the nominations shall be 
made by the States. The Chair will sustain and follow the pre- 
cedents set at the last Convention. 



74 Official Proceedings of the 

A Delegate : I move that the State of Massachusetts be now 
allowed to second the nominations. 

The Chair : The rule must apply to all the States. 

A Delegate from Wisconsin : I rise to a point of order. The 
gentleman can not make that motion; he must move to suspend 
the rules. 

The Chair : The point of order is well taken. The same point 
of order would arise in the case of every State, should the motion 
be adopted to stop the call of the roll, unless it be by unanimous 
consent. 

The motion was withdrawn. 

The Clerk then proceeded with the call of the States : 

Florida — The Chairman of the Delegation announced that 
they had no nomination to make. 

Georgia — The Chairman stated that Georgia had no candidate 
of her own to present. 

Illinois — 

In response to the call of Illinois, Hon. Samuel. S. 
Marshall of the Delegation from that State took the 
platform. 

The Chair : The Chair has the pleasure of presenting to the 
Convention the Hon. Samuel S. Marshall, of Illinois. 

ADDRESS OF HON. SAMUEL S. MARSHALL. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I must 
ask of you your indulgence, as I come here in ill-health, almost 
prostrated by the oppressive heat of this hall, and absolutely 
without preparation, to attempt to discharge a duty imposed on 
me by the Delegation of my State. I am instructed to present 
to the Convention for its consideration for the nomination for 
President of the United States, one of Illinois' most distinguished 
sons : a gentleman not only admirably qualified for the discharge 
of the duties of that great office, but who would, as we believe, 
most assuredly carry the banner of the Democratic party to a 
glorious triumph at the polls. 

The name I propose will be recognized as that of a man of 
indomitable courage, morally and physically, of large experience 
and great capacity for the duties of public life ; of pure, and sim- 



National Democratic Convention. 75 

pie, and genuine republican life and manners ; of that open, frank 
and manly character that wins confidence and insures popularity; 
with an inflexible will and with that courageous, sensitive, and 
aggressive honesty that can neither perpetrate fraud, nor permit 
fraud or crime to be perpetrated with impunity by others. Such a 
man, in short, as is demanded by the people to lead the Democ- 
racy in the coming contest. I therefore take peculiar pleasure 
in presenting for nomination for President that distinguished 
citizen, Colonel William R. Morrison, of Illinois. 

Mr. Morrison is emphatically a man of the people, and pos- 
sesses their unwavering confidence. Struggling from boyhood 
with the hardships and privations of povert}-, he has won his 
way to place and distinction by his own efforts, and without the 
adventitious aid of wealth or power His patriotism has been 
proven in war as a private in the ranks and as a distinguished 
officer and leader, periling his life in vindication of the honor 
and integrity of his country, and in peace by responding at all 
times to the call of duty, and manfully struggling for the rights 
of the people. Retaining the simplicity of manners, the purity 
of life, and home-bred virtues of the honest toiling masses, and 
sympathizing with them in their labors, and their privations, 
his most congenial home is amongst them, and they at all times 
give him their unwavering confidence. 

Colonel Morrison's friends do not claim for him the art of the 
brilliant and polished orator. His most striking characteristics 
are the possession of strong common sense, fixed and unwavering 
principles, and an unerring judgment that is not deceived or 
misled by the arts of sophistry or by the tricks of the demagogue. 
His style of speaking is plain, direct, and manly, coming without 
evasion or equivocation directly to the pith of the argument. 

And it must be remembered that it is among such men that 
the safe and reliable leaders of mankind are found. It is not the 
brilliant orator but the men of action and strong common sense, 
the Crom wells, the Franklin?, the JefTersons, the Jacksons, and 
the Lincolns that have won the confidence and devotion of the 
masses and have made their mark deepest upon the institutions 
and history of the world. During a long service in civil life 
Mr. Morrison has made a record to which his friends invite the 
closest scrutiny. As a member of the Illinois Legislature, as 
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, as member of 
Congress, his record will be found ever on the side of economy, 
against all rings, subsidies, monopolies, and special legislation, 



76 Official Proceedings of the 

and in favor of all liberal legislation tending to promote the 
honor and prosperity of the country. On questions of finance, 
he has been unyielding in favor of a sound currency, often in 
opposition to a strong adverse current of opinion among his own 
people. On tariff, and indeed, on all questions affecting the pros- 
perity and honor of the country, his voice and vote have ever 
been given on the side of what is now approved by the enlightened 
voice of the country. His record instead of being a stumbling 
block, would be a tower of strength to us in the coming canvass. 
We therefore present the name of Colonel Morrison, with no 
misgivings that if you adopt him as your candidate, you or the 
country will ever have cause to regret it. We. are confident that 
he will make a very strong candidate, and a most excellent and 
popular President. And as such we offer him for the enlightened 
consideration of the Convention. And if you will place him in 
nomination, we can confidently predict that a voice of approba- 
tion will come from every valley and hill-top in the land, and 
that the people will rally with enthusiasm and make him the 
next President of the United States. 

The Chair : The name of Colonel William R. Morrison is in 
nomination for the office of President of the United States. 

The Clerk then continued the call of the States: 

Indiana — 

In response to the name of the State of Indiana, 
Hon. Daniel "W. Voorhees of that State took the plat- 
form. 

The Chair : The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees, of Indiana. 

ADDRESS OF HON. DANIEL W. VOORHEES, 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen: I have the honor in turn, 



to present the name of a distinguished citizen of Indiana who is 
fit to be President of the United States. I have listened with 
pleasure to the recitals appertaining to the names that have 
already been announced to you. I know each gentleman well. 
I know the accomplished Jurist of California. I know the able 
and distinguished Senator from Delaware. I know the gallant, 
iron-hearted, brave man from Illinois, Colonel Morrison. I know 
them all well ; I am proud to pay them honor. Every name thus 



National Democratic Convention. 77 

far announced is worthy of this great presence. And yet I ven- 
ture in this comparison to announce the name of Thomas A. 
Hendricks. 

No word of disparagement falls from my lips on this occasion. 
I honor the names that are presented here, and I honor the name 
of the great and able man whose name has been withdrawn from 
the consideration of this Convention, from the State of New York. 
But looking over the career of public men, there is no man that 
comes into this presence with any moral claim, — for no man has 
that, — but with more commendation in the work of his life, than 
Governor Hendricks, of Indiana. Wheth'er looking at him in 
his early life as a Legislator in the affairs of his State ; as a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention which framed the funda- 
mental law of the State ; whether afterward as a member of Con- 
gress, representing a large, populous and intelligent district; 
whether as Commissioner of the Land Office, passing upon great 
questions connected with the public domain ; or whether after- 
ward viewing him as a Senator, battling, struggling, for the 
constitutional rights during the great reconstruction period of 
this government, — the constitutional rights of broken, conquered 
States; or whether still later, viewing him as the Chief Execu- 
tive of the fifth Commonwealth of this great Union. Everything 
in his record is full of honor, as it is full of instruction to those 
who may come after him in the positions which he has held. 

Mr. President, shall we wonder that his State is for him? 
Indiana has been the battle ground for twenty years of the Demo- 
cratic party. Whenever you wanted to give back a note of 
victory, you have looked to Indiana. And Indiana ! has she 
faltered? Sometimes borne down, but often triumphant, and 
always with the plume of Thomas A. Hendricks in the front. 
Here, sir, his State does come for him, and from the Ohio line on 
the east to the Illinois line on the west, from the lake on the 
north to the river on the south, but one voice is heard here and 
that is upholding and presenting the name of the honored citi- 
zen of whom I am now speaking. 

There is no divided counsel in Indiana, no treachery; none. 
Why am I for Mr. Hendricks? I have fought by his side; he 
and I have struggled through many contests in times gone by. 
I have seen his valor, his steady courage in the charge, and his 
wisdom in counsel; and I can stand with what little reputation 
I have before the assembled Democracy of the Union and say, 
this man is worthy of all acceptation, worthy of our support, and 



78 Official Proceedings of the 

that his administration of higher affairs than those to which he 
has been called will be as true and pure as those through which 
he has passed. In every situation of life he has risen to a level 
of every occasion, — to a level with every duty to which he has 
been called. 

And now, gentlemen, to the South, who has been more faithful? 
To the North, who has been truer? To the East, who has been 
better, wiser, more conservative and more faithful ? And to the 
West I need not appeal, for he is our own son. And here, come 
what will, gentlemen, we plant his standard in your midst. We 
nail his colors to the mast, and, come the battle or the breeze, 
though those colors may be torn and shivered, they will not go 
down except in honor, and we will go down with them if that 
should come. But, if, on the other hand, you should see fit, in 
your generous confidence, to honor the State of Indiana with his 
nomination, I can tell you in advance that her trumpet tongue 
of victory will ring out all over this land, and to all its borders, 
encouraging everywhere, arousing and inspiring the Democratic 
party in the remotest townships. When the October sun goes 
down on the October election, and from that on until November, 
you will have the enemy in full retreat. You will have a run- 
ning fight, for our front line will have broken the front line of 
the enemy, and all you will have to do will be to charge along 
the line and enter into a full and complete victory in the ides of 
November. I thank you gentlemen. 

The Chair : The name of Thomas A. Hendricks is in nomina- 
tion for the office of President of the United States. 

The Clerk then continued the call of the roll. 

Iowa — The Chairman of the Delegation from Iowa announced 
that she had no nomination of k her own to present. 

Kansas — The Chairman of this State made a similar announce- 
ment. 

Kentucky — The Chairman of the Kentucky Delegation said : 
Kentucky does not desire now to nominate any candidate for the 
Presidency of the United States. 

Louisiana — The Chairman of this State said : Louisiana has 
no candidate to place in nomination. 

Maine — The Chairman of the delegation from Maine made a 
like announcement. 



National Democratic Convention. 79 

Maryland — The Chairman of the Delegation of this State also 
made a like announcement. 

Massachusetts — The Chairman of the Delegation from Massa- 
chusetts, Judge Abbott, said: Massachusetts has no candidate to 
present; but a Delegate from the State will second in behalf of 
himself and some portion of the Delegation a nomination already 
made. 

The Chair : The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, of Massachusetts. 

ADDRESS OF HON. LEVERETT SALTONSTALL. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I desire, 
very briefly, to second the nomination which has been so ably 
made of Mr. Bayard, of Delaware, for the high office of President 
of the United States. And in so doing I express my unbounded 
admiration for the character of that good and great man, and his 
fitness for the office, to the candidacy of which I urge your atten- 
tion, — the attention of this vast assemblage of his fellow-citizens, 
who have come here from every section of this great country, im- 
pelled by the one high purpose, to so -act here to-day that our 
sons and our grandsons shall rise up and bless us for that work. 

Every heart here swells with one common desire; and that is 
to nominate men for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of this 
great Republic who shall elevate these high offices to the high 
place which they once held before the peoples of this earth Men 
who will honor the office far more than the office can add lustre 
to their names. The people demand a name so pure that none 
can be purer; the name of a statesman so true and so patriotic 
that they can with confidence repose in him the great office and 
its responsibilities. And such a man I conceive to be Thomas F. 
Bayard, of Delaware. The nomination of Mr. Bayard will excite 
throughout the land the greatest enthusiasm. — I can speak for 
myself, and I can speak for my own State, for men not only of 
the Democratic party, but for many patriotic men of the other 
party, — I say that it will excite the greatest enthusiasm. It will 
attract the votes of those who have never before voted the Demo- 
cratic ticket. 

Examine the fair record of his public and his private life, and 
you can point to no utterance which is lacking in wisdom; you 
can point to no act which admits of even doubtful construction. 
Mr. President, what a contrast between the record of Mr. Bayard 
and the public record of some other men in this respect; and 



80 Official Proceedings of the 

what a contrast do the people see as they behold it; and what a 
relief would the people feel in the nomination of such a man. It 
is rare to find one so simple and pure, with the manliness and 
courage to act at all times according to his sense of right. The 
people, especially that great generation of young men who have 
grown up since the close of the war, are weary of merely available 
men. They call for the best men in the land. They consider, 
and you may rely upon it, you may rely upon it, gentlemen, that 
they are right, that the most available man is the best man, 
wherever we may find him. Absolutely fearless, without the 
minutest suspicion of a blot upon the fair record of his life, both 
private and j'ublic, Mr. Bayard stands forth before his country- 
men the very embodiment of manly vigor, intellectual strength, 
unblemished character, like his great prototype of old, without 
fear and without reproach, a fit candidate for the people of the 
United States, and one of whom they might well be proud. 

The call of the States was then proceeded with. 

The States of Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mis- 
souri, and Nebraska had no nominations to make. 
Nevada — 

The Chairman of the Delegation being out of the 
hall, a Delegate from that State arose and said : 

A Delegate : We have no nomination to make; but I am in- 
formed that Colonel EJlis, the Chairman of the Nevada Delega- 
tion, intended to second the nomination of Judge Stephen J. 
Field. He is now absent with the Committee on Resolutions, 
and I hope this Convention will extend that courtesy to him, 
unless the nominations are closed before he returns to the hall. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky : I move that the State pass 
to the foot of the roll. 

There being no objection the State of Nevada passed 

to the foot of the roll. 

New Hampshire — 

A Delegate from this State said: 

A Delegate : New Hampshire will cast her vote for any man 
who receives the vote of this Convention. She has no nomina- 
tion to make. 



National Democratic Convention. 81 

New Jeesey — 

This State also had no nomination to make. 

New York — 

When the name of this State was called there was 
considerable confusion, calls for Tilden, and cheers, 
whereupon the Chair said : 

The ("hair: Gentlemen who have been admitted to the Con- 
vention must remember the courtesy extended to them; and for 
the last time the Chair admonishes them that if they continue 
that disorder he will direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to have them 
removed 

The Chairman of the ^N"ew York Delegation an- 
nounced that they had no nomination to make. 

Ohio — 

Upon the name of this State being called, Mr. John 
McSweeney of the Delegation from that State took the 
platform. 

The Chair: Gentlemen of the Convention, I have the honor 
to present to you Hon. John McSweeney, of Ohio. 

ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN M'SWEENEY. 

Mr. Chairman : The Democracy of Ohio, in Convention assem- 
bled, with absolute unanimity expressed their preference for 
Allan G. Thurman as their candidate for the Presidency; and 
the lot has fallen to me to present his name to you to-day. I 
come before you with a profound sense of the responsibility, and 
with a feeling of utter inability to fittingly perform the duty 
assigned me. 

1 shall not detain you with pompous eulogy — it would not be 
pleasing to the man I present — nor with tedious biography. You 
all know the man of whom I speak. 

" Ye know his deeds, 
And the name that dwells on every tongue no minstrel needs." 

For the past twelve years he has stood as the acknowledged 
leader of the Democratic party in the Senate, and to-day, I think 
I can truthfully say without disparagement of any of the other 

6 



82 Official Proceedings of the 

great names mentioned in this Convention, and without pluck- 
ing a single leaf from their laurels, that no man stands higher 
than he in the estimation of the American Democracy. He has 
on every proper occasion in the forum, on the bench, and in the 
senate, stood faithful as the people's champion against every form 
of oppression and wrong. His patriotism is bounded by no mere 
State lines and when it was recently demonstrated that a far off 
portion of our common country was being overrun by a barbarian 
horde with not a link of sympathy with our American civiliza- 
tion, he raised his mighty voice against the further continuation 
of the demoralizing innovation, and proved himself the friend and 
protector of the American laborer, and the purity of the American 
home. Great in genius, correct in judgment, of unrivalled elo- 
quence in defense of the right, with a spotless name, he stands 
forth as a born leader of the people, whom they will delight to 
follow. 

It is expected of this Convention, and the times peculiarly 
demand, the presentation of a ticket for the suffrages of the peo- 
ple which will be clean and free from spot or blemish, — one 
around which no dirty scandals cling. People demand a name 
that will be itself a platform. You are waiting for your platform ; 
I announce it : Allan G. Thurman. A name that bespeaks pub- 
lic integrity and chivalric honor. It is platform enough for me, 
and for all who know the unrivalled Senator. In these days 
when corruption in high places has stalked unrebuked at noon- 
day, his name has silenced the growing scepticism as to the 
reality of patriotism, has demonstrated that chivalric honor and 
unsullied integrity are consistent with the highest types of active 
American statesmanship. We would not be driven, if we nomi- 
nated him, to commence our campaign by defending our standard 
bearer against charges, either w T ell or ill founded, of moral ob- 
liquity or official malpractice. We would not go before the people 
asking condonation for past offenses, nor plead the statute of 
limitation against the fullest scrutiny, or the most searching in- 
vestigation into all his official career. 

Some men are able truthfully to say, that the arrows of defama- 
tion have fallen thick and fast, but yet have fallen harmless 
at their feet. I can say more. Against Allan G. Thurman, the 
furious tongue of slander and of most audacious calumny in an 
era of slander, has not had the boldness to speed from its weakened 
bow, even one blunt arrow against the spotless shield of the chief 
I name to-day. He has borne the brunt of battle in the cause of 






National Democratic Convention. 83 

Democracy, when even the bravest might well have shrunk from 
the contest. He has fought the good fight, and he has kept the 
faith ; but he has not yet finished his course of usefulness and 
glory. Under his administration the rights of all, high and low, 
rich and poor, capitalist and laborer, would be fully vindicated. 
Real fraternity would then be established between all sections; 
love between us like the palm would nourish, and peace her 
wheaten garlands wear, and sister State should only differ with 
sister State as one star differs from another star in glory. 
I find my time is passing away. [Cries of u Go on ! "] 
Thank you ; I was going on to say something of Ohio. The 
enemy have been accustomed to call it a Republican State. I 
deny it. I will prove it by the opposition. In their recent Con- 
vention they nominated a distinguished citizen of Ohio for the 
office of President, although they have already an " incumbrant, " 
an "incumbrant," mark you, of Tilden's chair, from Ohio; which 
would have been thirty-seven out of a possible thirty-eight good 
reasons why the nominee should not come from the same State. 
Insatiate archer, would not one Rutherford, the ruthless, suffice 
but you must have another? Did they do that because it was a 
Republican State? or were they simply carrying black Republi- 
can coals to Newcastle? 

In 1876, that dark year at the close of our first century, marked 
by that deed without a name, that infamy for which every man 
engaged in it should be framed in the world's art gallery of rogues 
for all time to come,— in 1876, with our glorious Tilden and Hen- 
dricks — God bless them both! — we gave our largest vote, and 
Hayes only carried Ohio by seven thousand, in a vote of nearly 
seven hundred thousand. If our friends in the East had had a 
tithe of that grain of mustard seed that was working in us, they 
would have said to this Republican mountain reduced by us to a 
mole-hill, " be thou completely removed ! " 

Kellow-citizens, I pass many thoughts which 1 had here pre- 
pared,} ut I will not weary you. Somebody will be calling "time" 
on me. Well, time and tide at last make all things even. Let 
me here remark that if you give us a candidate that will concen- 
trate the affections of Ohio, we will march forth in battle array. 
Let me also call your attention to a fact : recently General Garfield, 
better known by the euphonious epithet given to him by our 
poet laureate governor, u General G," — you remember when the 
prosaic poet broke down on his way from Chicago, with the Repub- 



84 Official Proceedings of the 

lican nominee, he was announcing to the highways and byways 
who their candidate was, and paraphrasing Mr. Conkling he said : 

" If you ask me whence our candidate comes, 
My answer first shall be: 
He's from the State of Ohio 
And his name is General G." 

They say a poet is born, not made ; and some fellow who writes 
the Latin of it says, "poeta nascitur, nonjit" That poet must have 
been born so; nobody could ever have made a poet of him ; the 
attempt would have resulted in a bad "fit." 

But to return to my subject. General G. when engaged in nomi- 
nating somebody in Chicago — somebody thought it was Sherman; 
but around that there hangs a reasonable doubt. I will discuss 
nothing not clearly before us, to-day. And just before the nomi- 
nator and the nominee became inextricably blended in one indis- 
soluble unity, Mr. G. made these solemn remarks: ".Brethren," 
said he, a all I expect of danger, all I want to get through with, 
is this current year. For on the next year, the stars will fight 
for us in their courses." He is going to organize the stars into 
returning boards against us; 'and the census," he says, "will 
continue us in power." Now, fellow-citizens, give us our glorious 
standard bearer, with the gonfalon thrown out in God's bright 
sunlight, of "Thurman to the rescue!" and I propose to antici- 
pate by one year Garfield's sidereal campaign, and will show him 
more falling Republican stars in the gloomy and melancholy days 
of November, than have ever been seen since Garfield's Con- 
federate Brigadier General Xerxes led those mythical Greeks 
against Leonidas at Thermopylae. 

If you will help us to call Thurman, we will elect him. And 
then make calling and election sure by a little ceremony that 
happened to be omitted four }^ears ago. And here let me serve 
notice, that every returning board shall be a "cooling board" for 
the miscreant that attempts by that device, to again rob the peo- 
ple of their choice. In spite of returning boards, and in spite of 
electoral commissions, all the gates of hell, even though the Re- 
publican party should carry the keys thereof, shall not prevail 
against us. 

The Chair: The name of the Hon. Allan G. Thurman, of 
Ohio, is in nomination for the office of President of the United 
States. 

The Clerk then proceeded with the call of the rolJ. 



National Democratic Convention. SB 

Oregon — The Chairman announced that they had no nomina- 
tion to make; her candidate has already been named. 

Pennsylvania — 

Mr. Hay, of the Delegation from that State, said : 

Mr. Malcolm Hay: The Delegates from Pennsylvania came 
here absolutely free to express their individual preferences for 
candidates. The Pennsylvania Delegation, as a delegation, has 
no candidate to present, but, Mr. Chairman, a Delegate from 
Pennsylvania now desires to make a nomination. 

Mr. Daniel Dougherty, of Pennsylvania, then took 
the platform. 

The Chair : The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention Hon. Daniel Dougherty, of Pennsylvania. 

ADDRESS OF HON. DANIEL DOUGHERTY. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I pre- 
sent to the thoughtful consideration of the Convention, the name 
of one who, on the field of battle, was styled "the superb," yet 
won still nobler renown as the Military Governor, whose first 
act in assuming command in Louisiana and Texas, was to salute 
the constitution! by proclaiming amid the joyous greetings of an 
oppressed people that the military, save in actual war, shall be 
subservient to the civil power. 

The plighted word of the soldier was proved in the deeds of the 
statesman. 

I name one who, if nominated, will suppress every faction, and 
be alike acceptable to the North and to the South. Whose nomi- 
nation will thrill the land from end to end, crush the last embers 
of sectional strife, and be hailed as the dawning of the longed-for 
day of perpetual brotherhood. 

With him we can fling away our shields and wage aggressive 
war. With him as our chieftain the bloody banner of the Repub- 
licans will fall from their palsied grasp. We can appeal to the 
supreme tribunal of the American people against the corruptions 
of the Republican party and its untold violations of constitutional 
liberty. 

Oh, my countrymen! in this supreme moment, — the destinies 
of the Republic, — the imperiled liberties of the people, hang 
breathless on your deliberations — pause! reflect! beware! make 
no misstep ! 



B6 Official Proceedings of the 

/I nominate hioa who can carry every Southern State. Can 

carry Pennsylvania, Indiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New 

J York. The soldier statesman with a record stainless as his sword. 

I nominate Winfield Scott Hancock, of Pennsylvania. If elected 

he will take his seat. 

The Clerk then proceeded with the roll-call of the 
States. 

Rhode Island — 

Phis State had no nomination to make. 

South Carolina — 

When this State was called Hon. Wade Hampton, 
of South Carolina, ascended the platform and was in- 
troduced as follows: 

The Chair : The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention General Wade Hampton, of South Carolina, 

ADDRESS OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention : Until a 
few moments ago I did not know that I should be called upon to 
say one word to this Convention, because South Carolina has no 
candidate to present. But I have been invited to second the 
nomination which has been made, and I know not why that 
honor was conferred on me, except that as Massachusetts has first 
seconded the nomination of Delaware, it may not be inappro- 
priate that South Carolina should reach out her hand to that 
great State of the East. They were in the past, perhaps, the two 
States most widely separated in political opinions. And it is a 
happy omen now, after all these years of trouble and of bloodshed, 
that those two great States, the one from the East, and my own 
Palmetto State from the South, should come together in a restored 
Union, and work for the peace, prosperity, and happiness of the 
whole American people. 

We say, sir, we have no candidate to present. We come here, 
bringing as an offering to the Democratic party, 138 electoral 
votes. We say to you, if you give us a man, pure, spotless, per- 
fect, — one who represents all the best elements of American char- 
acter, — if you give us such a man, we will give you our votes. 
We say it to you, and we say it to prove our sincerity, that we 



National Democratic Convention. 87 

have no one to offer. We come and say to the great East, and to 
this overwhelming Xorth-west, " place your two best men in the 
field, and we of the South will support them.*' We ask for no 
place, for no position ; for no pledges, for no patronage, no prom- 
ise. We come simply as Democrats to sustain the great Demo- 
cratic party. My friends ; we may be the most impartial judges, 
not of the merits of the respective candidates, because we recog- 
nize that those whose names have been presented to-day are each 
and all worthy to bear the great Democratic banner. We know 
that; and recognizing the enthusiasm which greeted the name 
of Hancock, we of the South would feel that we would be safe in 
his hands, because we were safe when he had the power. We 
know that the Xestor of our party, the guide, the leader of the 
Senate, that Thurman would add dignity to the place. We know 
that Indiana's son is worthy of the honor. We know that all 
those whose names have been presented here are worthy to be the 
standard bearers of our great party: and it is, therefore, in no in- 
vidious mood that I say to you that we take Bayard, because we 
believe that he is the strongest man. 

We believe that he will bring more Republican votes, more 
conservative Republican votes, to his support than any other man 
in America. We believe that he will attract the young vote of 
the country. We know that he will get every Democratic vote in 
America ; we know that he can be elected, — and we know that if 
elected, he too would take his place, for he is as brave as Hancock. 
You remember my friends, if the memory of my classical read- 
ing is not at fault, that when the Greeks were returning from 
their great victory, and were about to lay their offerings upon 
the altar, the Generals were called on to vote for the two men, 
the first and the second man, who in their opinion they thought 
most worthy of honor. And the name of Themistocles was 
found on every ballot. The name of Thomas Francis Bayard i-. 
if not always placed first, always placed second: and we cho 
to take the second man. 

Tennessee — Has no nomination to make. 

Texas— 

When this State \\a- called, the Chairman of thai 
Delegation said : 

Chairman: Texas has no nam" to present. One of her citi- 
zens desires to second the nomination of Winfield S. Hancock. 



88 Official Proceedings of the 

The Chair: The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention Governor Hubbard, of Texas. 

ADDRESS OF HON. RICHARD B. HUBBARD. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I rise 
by request, a request which meets the impulses of my own heart, 
to second the nomination of the soldier statesman, Winfield S. 
Hancock. 

Gentlemen of the Convention, it is peculiarly fit that Texas, 
that Louisiana, should respond to that nomination. Hear me 
for a moment. When the war closed, when the flag that some of 
us followed was furled forever, when again the constitution of the 
fathers was the supreme law of the land, as it is now and ever 
shall be, there came down through the southland, through my 
own State and Louisiana especially, a race of carpet-baggers, like 
the vandals of old, preying upon our wasted substance. Military 
Governors filled the bastiles with prisoners from civil life; men 
who had committed nought but fancied offenses against the gov- 
ernment, were crowded in every jail and in every bastile from 
the Rio Grande to the Father of Waters. In that hour, when we 
had lost all, when by the side of every hearthstone there were 
weeping Rachels, when the wolf was howling at almost every 
door, when there was widowhood and orphanage everywhere, 
there came a voice in that darkness of the night-time that said 
to us, '■ I am your military ruler; the war has closed. Unbar 
your dungeons, open your courts and be tried by civil procedure." 
That man was Winfield S. Hancock. 

It is an easy thing to be a summer friend. The world and hell 
are full of them. But in the hour of our sorrow, when he held 
his power at the hands of the great dominant Republican party, 
who could cut off his head, and who did remove him, there stood 
a man with the constitution before him, reading it as the fathers 
read it; that the war having ended we resumed the habiliments 
that as a right belong to us, not as a conquered province, but as 
a free people. The voice of a man like Hancock, who risked his 
reputation, place and power in the very face and teeth of the 
Republican party, is a man that it will do to trust the standard 
of our party to. 

He is not only a soldier ; that is something. In the contest 
that is to be waged, as the gallant Hampton has told you, the 
South will be united, whoever you may nominate. But failing 
in principle, failing upon every issue of finance, or of reform, or 



National Democratic Convention. 89 

of good government, to attack the record of the Democratic party, 
mark it, the slogan of the Republican party will be the Ct bloody 
shirt;" "the old leaven of rebellion still lives." You will hear 
it from the mountains and the valleys; you will hear it along the 
line. If you nominate Hancock, where is the argument? We 
can say everywhere, " here is a soldier second not even to the 
silent man on horseback. Here is a soldier that bore down even 
upon us like Cardigan at Balaklava, like a plumed knight to the 
front." Here is a man with whom one hundred thousand northern 
soldiers, if they are like southern soldiers, will rally round his 
standard. Because he was a great soldier and a good man, and a 
faithful citizen when the war was over. 

Gentlemen, I believe him to be to-day the most available candi- 
date of all the great names that have been presented in this great 
presence. As I said a while ago, what we want is votes, votes ; 
more of them, votes, in God's name, whether they come from the 
Republican soldiers or otherwise. General Hancock is not want- 
ing in all the elements of the statesman. Read his letter to 
Governor Pease ; it is worthy of being enshrined, it is worthy 
of being placed upon the proudest pages of American history. 
In that letter he discussed and asserted the superiority and 
supremacy of the civil power over the sword and spear. I have 
nothing more to say except this: that if you nominate him not 
only the South will stand around him, as the old guard did 
around Xapoleon, but I believe the soldiers of the great North, 
the men who honestly fought us in that greatest of human con- 
flicts, will again enlist under his banner; that with the record 
which he has, without stain and without reproach, with no credit 
mobilier scandal or DeGolyer frauds around him, with a stainless 
name blending together the soldier and the statesman, after a 
quarter of a century of waiting, we will win the contest; and 
when won, if there is a man living in the broad confines of this 
great country who will worthily wear those honors, it is Winfield 
Scott Hancock, of Pennsylvania. 

Vermont — Has no nomination to make. 
Virginia — 

When this State was called, the Chairman of the 
Delegation said: 

Chairman : In obedience to requests made, we will second the 
nomination already made. 



90 Official Proceedings of the 

The Chair: The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention the Hon. C. S. Stringfellow, of Virginia. 

ADDRESS OF HON. C. S. STRINGFELLOW. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I would 
not venture at my own instance to trespass upon your time and 
attention, and all unfitted at best for the duty which has been 
assigned me, I would approach its performance with still greater 
hesitation, if I did not feel that in this council hall of the great 
Democratic party, albeit for four long years I wore the gray, I 
speak to men who have risen above the prejudices and conquered 
the passions and presentments which war engendered ; to men 
who are bound together by so many ties of sympathy, of interest, 
of language, and of blood ; to men who have in common so many 
glorious recollections of the past and so many bright hopes for 
the future, that I ma} T crave a moment's indulgence when I come 
in the name of more than one-third of the Delegates of Old Vir- 
ginia, to give a hearty second to the nomination of California's 
distinguished son, who in peace and in war has proved himself 
one of the ablest and most devoted friends of that constitution 
and that Union which Old Virginia so largely aided in forming, 
and which, by the grace of God, she means to the best of her 
ability as honestly defend. 

But, gentlemen, there are enemies to the laws and the liberties 
of the people, as deadly and dangerous in peace as are the armed 
battalions that may be mustered against them when the lawless 
ambition, 'the bad passions, and the selfish interests of men "let 
slip the dogs of war." The right of secession is no longer debated 
or debatable. The controversy whether the Federal Union is a com- 
pact between sovereign States, with no arbiter to enforce its ob- 
servance or decide when it is broken, or whether it is a National 
Government, framed by the people for the people, and framed, as 
we trust, to endure forever, is no longer a matter of importance. 
All such issues have been practically settled by the stern arbitra- 
ment of the sword, and in its decision the Southern people right 
royally acquiesce. When, therefore, the charge is made by the 
Republicans that we still cling to the doctrines of the extreme 
State rights sohool, and when timid men in the Democratic party 
whisper, with bated breath, that the nomination of Judge Field 
is a committal of a party to those doctrines, I reply to this ex- 
tent the charge is true: It is true that we are for the right of 
the States to preserve their autonomy, as guaranteed by the con- 



National Democratic Convention. 91 

stitution, against every effort to destroy those States, and change 
this representative government into a consolidated despotism. 
It is true that we are for the rights of the States by peaceable 
appeal to the ballot to drive from place and power the men who 
hold them by corrupt, dishonest, and fraudulent contrivances. 
It is true that we are for the right of the States to retain and 
exercise all of those powers not delegated to the Federal Govern- 
ment by express grant or fair implication. It is true that we are 
for the right of the States to protect the people against the mad 
ambition of senatorial triumvirates or individual men. It is 
true that we are for the right of the States not to secede from, to 
impair or destroy, but to defend and preserve inviolable and in- 
violate "an indissoluble union of indestructible States," based on 
the constitution and the laws, and cemented by the love and af- 
fection of the people. 

On these points the South is indeed solid. It is solid in be- 
lieving that the government of this great country is a public 
trust, not to be administered in the interest of any particular 
family, section, or party, but for the happiness and welfarcof the 
whole people. It is solid in the conviction that, for the proper 
execution of this trust, honesty, integrity, and ability are indis- 
pensable prerequisites. It is solid in the belief that the highest 
office in the gift of this great people should be filled by a wise, 
patriotic, and just man, honestly elected thereto, who will dis- 
charge its duties with an eye single to the public good and insti- 
tute those reforms which the conscience and the voice of the 
country alike demand. And I but give voice to the conviction 
which animates those whom I have the honor to represent when 
I say that, in their opinion, such a man is Judge Field. 

His courage is beyond question ; his integrity above reproach ; 
his wisdom and administrative capacity, illustrated in the laws 
which gave peace and quiet to a great and prosperous State ; his 
intellectual ability, great learning, and inflexible justice, crys- 
talized in a series of judicial opinions which ought to excite the 
admiration of the present, as they will the pride of future genera- 
tions. It has been charged that his nomination would be an 
appeal from the judgment of the Supreme Court to that of the 
people,— an appeal from the bench to the ballot. This is not 
true. His name is presented for your consideration, not because 
of any special opinion he has rendered, concurring in or dissent- 
ing from the judgment of that august tribunal, of which he is so 
distinguished a member and to which, life-long Democrat as he is, 



92 Official Proceedings of the 

he was called by Mr. Lincoln ; but because at all times, and in all 
the offices which he has filled in his eventful life, he has shown 
himself a man of varied and profound wisdom, of incorruptible 
integrity, of patriotic and loyal devotion to the spirit and genius 
of American institutions, to the laws and constitution of the 
American Union. I do not seek to disparage the claims of any 
of the illustrious citizens whose names have been presented to 
this Convention. I would not, if I could, detract from their civic 
or military honors; yet sometimes nature seems to brush aside 
her prentice hands, and taking her place at the bellows, to forge 
in the workshop of time a character so grand in its conception, 
so perfect in all its proportions, so well adjusted in all its parts, 
that she may stand up and say to all the world, "this is a man!" 
A man in physical development, a man in intellectual power, a 
man in sympathy with all that is good and true, a man of strong 
will and generous feeling, a man of that intuitive perception and 
reverence for justice, truth and law, which dignifies and ennobles 
true manhood. Such a man is Stephen J. Field. 

The Chair : The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention Hon. John W. Daniel, of Virginia : 

address of hon. john w. daniel. 

Mr. President and Brother Democrats of the National 
Convention : It is not the weakness, but it is the essential 
strength of true Democracy, that its constituents should possess 
varied and different opinions as to who is the man to receive 
public honors, to maintain great principles,. and to execute the 
people's will. It is the glory of true Democracy that its constitu- 
ents will renounce all personal opinions and preferences when 
the voice of the majority has pointed to the chosen servant of 
the people to execute the people's will. 

We are here to-day embarraased by the very brilliancy and 
variety of the names which have challenged public favor for the 
first office in the people's gift. Jurists who have worn untar- 
nished ermine ; statesmen who have molded the policy, shaped 
the measures, and fought the battles of the party ; soldiers who 
have enriched our history with feats of arms, and who are bat- 
tled-scarred with wounds of honor; orators, scholars, thinkers, 
actors in all the leading lines of practical enterprise or intel- 
lectual endeavor, stand in glittering array around us, worthy to 
be crowned with any honor or to be the recipient of any trust 
that this great Republic can bestow. The question which I have 



National Democratic Convention. 93 

asked myself, the question which, it seems me, should be the in- 
dex finger to guide our work to a wise conclusion, is this: who is 
that man among them who can interlace the heart-strings of this 
American people ? who is that man who can make to permeate 
through every portion of this mighty land those sentiments of 
mutual confidence and of brotherly love which once abided among 
us before the unhappy schism of the secession war ? When I 
have asked the question, the heart of every man gives me answer 
that that man is Winfield Scott Hancock, of Pennsylvania. Did 
I say of Pennsylvania? Winfield Scott Hancock of the United 
States; of all the States by his good right-hand re-united. They 
tell us, gentlemen, that this country is tired of the camp and of 
the sword; they tell us that the people are weary of martial habits 
and of martial measures. I acknowledge that fact, but all the 
more will they welcome with gladsome greetings the man who 
first abolished them. Weary indeed are the suffering people of 
the rule of the camp in civil places. All the more ready are they, 
therefore, to receive him who was the first to salute with his 
stainless sword the majesty of the civil law; who was the first 
to bow that knightly crest at the bar of civil justice; who was 
the first of all whose voice was heard crying aloud in the wilder- 
ness of despotism, "make the way straight for the reign of peace 
and for the sovereignty of the people." 

Bethink you not, my friends, that the American people are so 
indiscriminating as to apprehend the embryo of a Caesar in the 
man who was the very Brutus of unhallowed arbitrary power, in 
the man who wrote with a pen worthy to have been guided by 
the hand of Jefferson, who uttered with an emphasis worthy 
of Andrew Jackson, those immortal words of Democratic faith 
which every lip re-echoes. Those words came to this country 
like a sunburst upon a wintry day; they were like the springing. 
up of a fountain in a desert ; they were like the shadow of a great 
rock in a weary land. And long after this great Convention has 
passed away from earth, the millions who are to come after us 
will be singing upon their tongues those words which belong 
to Runymede and to Magna Charta : "The great principles of 
American liberty, are still the lawful inheritance of this people ; 
the trial by jury, the habeas corpus, the freedom of speech, the 
liberty of the press, the natural rights of persons and the rights 
of property must be preserved." 

They tell us that we, the American people, do not want a sol- 
dier. The greatest and best, the Magistrate without a peer, was 



94 Official Proceedings of the 

who? George Washington, the soldier. George Washington, 
whose life had been spent in the saddle, and whose history is 
made musical with the clinking of the spur. Madison and Mon- 
roe were soldiers; Jackson, and Harrison, and Taylor were soldiers. 
Franklin Pierce was a soldier ; Buchanan and Lincoln had both 
borne arms for the Republic; all adown the line of your Presidents 
for one hundred years are the sparkling names of the American 
soldiers. 

And why shall we not now follow in the footsteps of our fathers 
and present the greatest office which this Republic can bestow, 
to that great Democratic soldier, who shed his blood for his people, 
yet who proved as generous to the conquered as he was loyal to 
the conquering banner. 

Just one word more. The nomination of General Hancock 
means instantaneous and continuous aggression. It will sound to 
America like a general order from this council of war : " We move 
on the enemy's works to-morrow." The signal guns sound the 
advance, the bugles ring "boots and saddle." The standard to 
the front with the nomination of Hancock, and you will hear the 
tread of the moving legions. I am reminded here that the first 
man yesterday whose very presence in this Convention touched 
its heart and brought forth spontaneously its applause, was the 
soldier statesman, Wade Hampton, of South Carolina. Nominate 
Winfield Scott Hancock, and let the last cheer of this Convention 
go up for the Union soldiers who have shown themselves so gen- 
erous in welcoming us. Then, my friends, in this canvass you 
will hear the hearty hurra! of the boys who wore the blue ming- 
ling with the wild, sweet music of the rebel cheer in One grand 
national anthem of peace. Then, my friends, the divided tribes, 
who, like the Romans of old, have come down from the moun- 
tains of secessia will pour in one mighty and undivided stream 
for the regeneration of this Nation. 

West Virginia — 

When this State was called, the Hon. J. 11. Goode, 

of West Virginia, took the platform. 

The Chair : The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention Hon. J. H. Goode, of West Virginia. 

address of hon. j. h. goode. 

Mr. Chairman, and my Fellow-Citizens of this Convention : 
I ask your attention but for one moment. West Virginia is not 



National Democratic Convention. 95 

forgetful of her benefactor in the days of her political adversity. 
When freedom was a mockery and the exercise of liberty a grand 
crime: when grand juries were summoned to indict, the petit 
juries to convict : when the appeals from hundreds of deserted 
homes cried out from the depths of personal humiliation, West 
Virginia raised her voice for help, and stretched forth her hands 
imploringly for mercy. No sooner had her cry gone out than the 
response came back, " we are coming." It was the voice of Ohio. 
True to her promise came Ohio to the rescue, led by the noblest 
soldier of the legion. Yes, that noblest Roman came ; he stood 
where others feared to stand, spoke what others feared to speak, 
did what others feared to do, — met the black dragon in his den 
and drove him out forever. To-day, West Virginia joins in the 
chorus of liberty; her voice sounds from the mountains and mur- 
murs from the streams, and all, with one common response, echo 
to the duty and obligations that we are under to the State of Ohio. 

Yes, the night has passed and the day has come, and "all the 
clouds that lowered upon our house are deep in the bosom of the 
ocean buried;" and from hill and dale, lowland and mountain, 
comes the humble petitioner to pray for Allan G. Thurman, of 
Ohio. 

From the day that we were released from the tyranny of our 
political bondage up to this hour, we have watched his every 
move and listened to his every speech. We heard him when 
Sheridan invoked the President of the United States for a procla- 
mation to declare the people of Louisiana robbers and banditti ; 
we heard him when Hayes usurped the Presidency, and the Re- 
publican party inaugurated a fraud ; we heard him in his advo- 
cacy of the rights of the States and the liberty of the people : we 
heard him upon the iniquity of that law which gave to super- 
visors and marshals the right to determine the votes and super- 
vise the returns of the American people ; we heard him upon the 
repeal of those imperial statutes when every Republican, headed 
by the President, was ready to sacrifice every patriotic principle 
in order to promote the grand scheme of centralizing power; we 
heard him when James A. Garfield, backed by his Republican fol- 
lowers, opposed a resolution looking to the prevention of Chinese 
emigration and the protection of the American laborer; we heard 
him opposing the squandering of the public domain, and the 
rights acquired by the people upon the monopoly of railroad com- 
binations. We heard him in all these things, and we want him 
now for President. Under Allan G. Thurman there will be no 



96 Official Proceedings of the 

bloody shirt to wave; under him there will be no section above 
another, there will be no North, no South, no East, no West, but 
one common Union maintained and honored for the common 
benefit of all. 

Mr. Chairman, a word, and I have done. R. B. Hayes, through 
the agency of fraud, has been declared President of these United 
States. And judging by the system by which he was inaugu- 
rated, if Allan G. Thurman be elected, the thousands who will 
have elected him will see to it that he is recognized, inaugurated, 
and obeyed as the President of the United States. 

Wisconsin — Has no candidate to offer. 

The roll of States being now completed the Chair 

said: 

The Chair : The Clerk will now report to the Convention the 
names of the gentlemen who are in nomination for the office of 
President of the United States. 

The Clerk then read the following names : 

Stephen J. Field, of California. 
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware. 
Willtam R. Morrison, of Illinois. 
Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana. 
Allan G. Thurman, of Ohio. 
Winfield S. Hancock, of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky : I now move that we go into 
a ballot. 

Mr. Hoadly, of Ohio : I move that the Convention do now 
adjourn until 10 o'clock to-morrow. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky : All I desire to say is that 
while we have sat here nearly six hours, we represent districts 
very remote from every part of the Union; and it is to our in- 
terest and our duty to get through as soon as possible. There are 
no decisive questions before the Democratic party now that de- 
mand that we shall postpone a nomination till we get a platform. 
I know there was a time when there was such a postponement, 
and the Democratic party was divided, the country torn in pieces, 
and households made sad with their lost sons. This does not 
commend itself to us now. Let us have one ballot; let us see 
how we stand. Let us have it as a sort of preliminary debate, 



National Democratic Convention. 97 

then we can adjourn; we can consult, — our platform can be re- 
ported, and we will know better how we stand 

Mr. Hoadly, of Ohio: I rise to a point of order. The Chair 
recognized me ; I moved to adjourn till to-morrow at 10 o'clock. 

The Chair: The Chair did not hear the motion to adjourn 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio. The gentleman from Ohio 
moves to adjourn till 10 o'clock to-morrow. 

Upon putting the question to adjourn it became evi- 
dent that the galleries had joined their voices to those 
of the Delegates, in the vote. 

The Chair : The Chair will not be moved by such irregular 
attempts. He will not recognize such efforts. Let the question 
come up and he will endeavor to decide it; these attempts to 
drown out the declaration that the roll must be called, that it is 
out of order, — by what right do gentlemen undertake to say it is 
out of order? I shall not be influenced in the slightest degree 
by these unseemly attempts to prevent the real wish of the Con- 
vention from being understood. 

Mr. Compton, of Maryland : The motion is made that the Con- 
vention adjourn. Upon that motion I ask for a call of the roll. 

The Chair : The call of the States is demanded. Does the 
gentleman insist? 

Mr. Compton : I insist upon my demand for a call of the roll. 

Mr. McCafferty, of Massachusetts: On the vote just taken, 
the galleries joined their voice to that of the Delegates, so that it 
was not apparent to any body how the vote stood between the 
Delegates who can alone pass upon the question. Therefore, if 
the vote is to be put again, — and I ask that it may be, — I ask 
that the roll of States may be called to determine it. 

The Chair: The Chair had not decided the question upon 
adjournment; he did not recognize the miscellaneous noes, and 
the outcries attempting to drown the call for the roll; nor will 
he ever do it while he occupies this Chair. The question upon 
adjournment is called for by States. The Chair will endeavor to 
enforce impartially the rules of this Convention. He admon- 
ishes the galleries, and he admonishes gentlemen who are not 
members of this Convention to remember* that they are enjoying 
its privileges by its courtesy : and he hopes that they will not 



98 



Official Proceedings of the 



attempt to join in any vote in this Convention. The question 
upon adjournment is called for by States, There being a second 
from another State, the roll will be called ; those who favor an 
adjournment will vote aye ; those opposed to an adjournment 
will vote nay. 

The Clerk then called the roll of the States with the 
following result: 



States. 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan ... 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 



Votes. 
20 
12 
12 
6 
12 
6 
8 
22 
42 
30 
22 
10 
24 
16 
14 
16 
26 
22 
10 
16 



Ayes. 
6 

3 
6 
12 
6 
8 
5 

30 
10 



3 



Nays. 
14 
12 
9 



11 
42 

11 
10 
24 
16 
11 
16 

m 

3 

10 
16 



States. 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire. 

New Jersey 

New York 

North Carolina... 

Ohio : 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania.... 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina... 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

Virginia. 

West Virginia ... 
Wisconsin 



Votes. Ayes. Nays. 
30 



30 
6 
6 

10 
18 
70 
20 
44 
6 
58 
8 

14 
24 
16 
10 
22 
10 
20 



6 

6 

6 

17 

70 

2 

44 

24 
1 



18 



29 
7 

14 
17 
11 
10 
29 



2 
18 



Total 738 317£ 395* 



The Chair 



Upon the motion to adjourn the vote is 3I7-J- yeas 
The Convention therefore refuses to adjourn and 
the motion is lost. 



and 395t? nays 



A Delegate from Massachusetts : I move you, sir, that the 
roll of States be now called, and that a ballot be had for a candi- 
date for President of the United States. 

This motion w^as carried. 

The Chair : The Clerk will now call the roll. Each State 
when it is called will announce its vote for its candidate for the 
Presidency. 

The Clerk then called the roll with the following- 
result : 



National Democratic Convention. 



99 



States 


50" 
W 

o 

> 

20 
12 
12 

6 
12 

6 

8 
22 
42 
30 
22 
10 
24 
16 
14 
16 
26 
22 
10 
16 
30 

6 

6 
10 
18 
7< 
20 
44 

6 
58 

8 
14 
24 
16 
10 
22 
10 
20 

738 


< 
< 

7 


u 

8 

'A 
< 

E 
7 


■- 

5 

12 

6 

1 


< 

fa 
1 


£> 
C 

s 
>< 

H 


Q 
< 

> 
-5 


02 

O 

n 


>- 

< 


a 


< 
- 

< 





i 


< 
5 


-1 
x 

H 


— 

u 


M 


u 

< 


;- 

a 

'-a 


W 




Alabama 




Arkansas 
































California 


3 
..... 


2 


"■5 


1 


























Colorado 






























Connecticut 


4 
6 
8 
5 




3 


2 
























Delaware 
























Florida 






































Georgia 


8 


8 








i 


























Illinois 










42 
















Indiana 














30 

2 
























Iowa 


3 


7 










2 






10 


6 


2 
1 














Kansas 












Kentucky '. 


6 

"id" 

Hi 

2 

...... 

4 


1 
16 
14 


2 


7 






2 




5 






Louisiana 




Maine 


























Maryland 

Massachusetts... 




6 
5 

10 
5 

12 


2 
4 


1 


"i 




2 


"i 


2 

r 






















Michigan 








1 


] 










Minnesota 










Mississippi 

Missouri 


2 












1 

7 




























3 


"fi 






4 
















Nebraska 
























Nevada 






3 
1 










3 






















N. Hampshire.... 
New Jersey 


3 
10 


4 


2 


































4 


70 




3 












1 








New York 
























North Carolina.. 


7 


9 




ii" 


1 




1 


1 
















1 






Ohio 


















Oregon 

Pennsylvania.... 
Rhode Island.... 






4 
1 
1 










2 
15 

1 






















7 
2 

14 
9 
5 

10* 
...„. 

1533 


28 
2 




3 
1 




1 




1 
















J 


















1 


South Carolina.. 






















Tennn.-see 


11 
9 

10 
3 
3 
1 

171 


2 


1 
1 
































Texas 






1 


























Vermont 


























Virginia 


9 
66 


































West Virginia.... 


7 
































Wisconsin 
















1(1 
62 


3 


1 


1 

• ) 










Total 


68.] 


8 


5 


49.] 


SI 


38 


6 


if) 


] 


1 


'•■ 


1 



4 



Necessary for a choice 492. 

At the conclusion of the ballot Mr. Abbott, of Massa- 
chusetts, said: 

Mr. Abbott: Mr. Chairman, I desire to add to the vote of 
Massachusetts one-half of one vote for Judge Field, making his 
vote two 

The vote was amended in accordance with the re- 
quest. 



100 Official Proceedings of the 

The Chair : If the Convention will come to order, the Secre- 
tary will announce the result of the first ballot for candidate for 
President of the United States. 

The Secretary then announced the vote as follows: 

Total number of votes to be cast 738 

Necessary for a choice 492 

Of which the following candidates received: 

Hancock 171 

' Bayard 153$ 

Payne 81 

Thurman 68£ 

Field 65 

Morrison 62 

Hendricks 49£ 

Tilden 38 

Ewing 10 

Seymour 8 

Randall 6 

Loveland 5 

McDonald 2 

McClellan 2 

Lothrop 1 

Parker 1 

Black 1. 

Jewett 1 

English 1 

Total votes cast 726* 

Absent and not voting : 

Michigan 6 

Massachusetts 1* 

Connecticut .-. 1 

Pennsylvania 2 

Tennessee 1 

Total " 11$ 

The Chair: No one having received two-thirds of the vote 
cast no choice has been made. 

Mr. Preston, of Kentucky: I now move that the Convention 
adjourn until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

This motion was carried. 

The Convention was declared adjourned to 10 o'clock 
A. M., Thursday, June 24, 1880. ' 



National Democratic Convention. 101 



THIRD DAY. 



Chstcix^ati, Jtjxe 24, 1880. 

Pursuant to adjournment, the Convention met at 
10 o'clock A. M., Thursday, June 24, 1880. 

The Convention was called to order b}^ the Chair- 
man, Mr. Stevenson, at 10:30 A. M., as follows: 

The Chair: The Convention will come to order. The Con- 
vention will be opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Taylor. 

PRAYER. 

Let us pray. Almighty God, oar Heavenly Father, we thank 
Thee for the mercies of this new day, and we now invoke Thy 
Fatherly blessing as a preparation for the duties and responsi- 
bilities that devolve upon us at this hour. Give us to realize the 
imperfections of our own judgment and our great need of divine 
guidance in the discharge of the momentous trusts committed to 
our hands at this important crisis in the history of our country. 

May wisdom from on High be vouchsafed unto us for the proper 
execution of these duties and responsibilities. May calmness and 
moderation characterize all our proceedings, and do Thou, O Lord, 
restrain every impulse that may be incompatible with that unan- 
imity of purpose and harmony of action so needful to accomplish 
the patriotic ends we have in view. May we be willing to lay 
aside our local and partisan predilections for the highest welfare 
of our entire people. 

Now, O Lord, we humbly beseech Thee to grant that the choice 
of this Convention as its candidates may result in the selection 
of men pure in character, blameless in life, unsullied in reputa- 
tion, and of exalted patriotism; and do Thou, O Lord, grant that 
under Thy blessings as the result of this selection, they be 



102 Official Proceedings of the 

brought to occupy those high places for which their eminent fit- 
ness may indicate them as the choice of the American people. 

All this we ask, with the additional bestowment of every needed 
blessing, and the forgiveness of our sins, in the name of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 

At the conclusion of the prayer, the Hon. Rufus W. 
Peckham, of ~N"ew York, obtained the floor, and began 
to address the Convention from his seat on the floor. 
In obedience to repeated calls to take the platform, 
Mr. Peckham did so, and spoke as follows: 

ADDRESS OF HON. RUFUS W. PECKHAM. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention: I rise, 
sir, to make a statement to the Convention on behalf of the Dele- 
gation from the State of New York. That Delegation heard with 
great sensibility the vote from the different States in the Con- 
vention of yesterday, given for the honored statesman of New 
York, Samuel J. Tilden. 

At the mention of Mr. Tilden's name there was 

snch an outburst of cheers, applause, and waving of 

hats, etc., that the Chair said: 

The Chair: Gentlemen must preserve order, or the §ergeant- 
at-Arms will clear the house. There is a spirit of outside men 
that defies authority and defies respect. The Chair is impotent 
without the assistance of the regular Delegation to this Conven- 
tion, to rid the hall of those who will not obey its authority. I 
now admonish all, that I shall ask this Convention at any hazard 
to preserve the respect and order which is essential to its decorum. 

Mr. Peckham, continuing: 

The Delegation from the State of New York have received a 
letter from that gentleman whose name I have just pronounced, 
in which, after mature deliberation, he has renounced himself 
before this Convention as a candidate, in nomination, or for the 
nomination of the Presidency of this country. 

The Delegation from the State of New York, knowing the man 
who penned that letter to be honest in sentiment and thought 
and action, have taken, and do now take, that representation in 
the spirit that it was made, as a renunciation of all claims as a 



National Democratic Convention. 10?> 

candidate before this Convention. And I now present that letter 
from him that it maybe used as this Convention may determine. 
But the New York Delegation, acting in good faith upon what 
they know to be the sentiment of their honored chief, have them- 
selves this morning, after mature deliberation and consultation, 
agreed upon a candidate other than Samuel J. Tilden. And that 
candidate I am requested to announce, not in any set speech, not 
by any grand declaration, but simply as giving to this Conven- 
tion the present sentiment of the State of New York in favor of 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives — Samuel J. Randall. 

The Chair : The name of Hon. Samuel J. Randall is added 
to the list of candidates for the office of President of the United 
States. 

The following is the letter of withdrawal of Hon. 
Samnel J. Tilden: 

MR. TILDEN'S LETTER. 

New York. June 18, 1880 
To the Delegates from the State of New York to the 

National Democratic Convention: 

Your first assembling is an occasion on which it is proper for 
me to state to you my relation to the nomination for the Presi- 
dency which you and your associates are commissioned to make 
in behalf of the Democratic party of the United States. Having 
passed my early years in an atmosphere filled with the traditions 
of the war which secured our national independence, and of the 
struggles which made our constitutional system a government 
for the people, by the people, I learned to idolize the institu- 
tions of my country, and was educated to believe it the duty of 
a citizen of the Republic to take his fair allotment of care and 
trouble in public affairs. I fulfilled that duty to thf 1 best of my 
ability for forty years as a private citizen. Although during all 
my life giving at least as much thought and effort to public 
affairs as to all other objects, I have never accepted official service 
except for a brief period, for a special purpose, and only when 
the occasion seemed to require of me that sacrifice of private 
preferences to public interest. My life has been substantially 
that of a private citizen. 

It was, I presume, the success of efforts, in which as a private 
citizen I had shared, to overthrow a corrupt combination then 



104 Official Proceedings of the 

holding dominion in our metropolis, and to purify the judiciary, 
which had become its tool, that induced the Democracy of the 
State, in 1874, to nominate me for Governor. This was done in 
spite of the protest of a minority that the part I had borne in 
those reforms had created antagonisms fatal to me as a candidate- 
I felt constrained to accept the nomination as the most certain 
means of putting the power of the Gubernatorial office on the 
side of reform, and of removing the impression, wherever it pre- 
vailed, that the faithful discharge of one's duty as a citizen is 
fatal to his usefulness as a public servant. 

The breaking up of the canal ring, the better management of 
our public works, the large reduction of taxes, and other reforms 
accomplished during my administration, doubtless occasioned my 
nomination for the Presidency by the Democracy of the Union, 
in the hope that similar processes would be applied to the Federal 
Government. Prom the responsibilities of such an undertaking, 
appalling as it seemed to me, I did not feel at liberty to shrink. 

In the canvass which ensued the Democratic party represented 
reform in the administration of the Federal Government, and a 
restoration of our complex political system to the pure ideals of 
its founders. Upon these issues the people of the United States, 
by a majority of more than a quarter of a million, chose a majority 
of the electors to cast their votes for the Democratic candidates 
for President and Vice-President. It is my right and privilege 
here to say that I was nominated and elected to the Presidency 
absolutely free from any engagement in respect to the exercise 
of its powers or the disposal of its patronage. Through the whole 
period of my relation to the Presidency I did everything in my 
power to elevate, and nothing to lower moral standards in the 
competition of parties. 

By what nefarious means the basis for a false count was laid in 
several of the States I need not recite. These are now matters 
of history about which whatever diversity of opinion may have 
existed in either of the great parties of the country at the time 
of their consummation, has since practically disappeared. 

I refused to ransom from the returning boards of Southern 
States the documentary evidence by the suppression of which, 
and by the substitution of fraudulent and forged papers, a pretext 
was made for the perpetration of a false count. 

The constitutional duty of the two houses of Congress to count 
the electoral votes as cast, and to give effect to the will of the 
people, as expressed by their suffrages, was never fulfilled. An 



National Democratic Convention. 105 

electoral commission, for the existence of which I have no 
responsibility, was formed, and to it the two houses of Congress 
abdicated their duty to make the count, by a law enacting that 
the count of the commission should stand as lawful unless over- 
ruled by the concurrent action of the two houses. Its false count 
was not overruled, owing to the complicity of a Republican 
senate with a Republican majority of the commission. 

Controlled by its Republican majority of eight to seven, the 
electoral commission counted out the men elected by the people 
and counted in the men not elected by the people. 

That subversion of the election created a new issue for the 
decision of the people of the United States, transcending in 
importance all questions of administration. It. involved the 
vital principle of self-government through elections by the 
people. 

The immense growth of the means of corrupt influence over 
the ballot box which is at the disposal of the party having 
possession of the Executive administration, had already become 
a present evil and a great danger, tending to make elections 
irresponsive in public opinion, hampering the power of the 
people to change their rulers and enabling the men holding the 
machinery of government to continue and perpetuate their 
power. ' It was my opinion in 1876 that the Opposition attempt- 
ing to change the administration needed to include at least two- 
thirds of the voters at the opening of the canvass in order to 
retain a majority at the election. 

If, after such obstacles had been overcome and a majority of 
the people had voted to change the administration of their gov- 
ernment, the men in office could still procure a false count 
founded upon frauds, perjuries, and forgeries, furnishing a pretext 
of documentary evidence on which to base that false count, and 
if such a transaction were not only successful, but if, after allot- 
ment of its benefits were made to its contrivers, abettors, and 
apologists by the chief beneficiary of the transaction, it were con- 
doned by the people, a practical destruction of elections by the 
people would have been accomplished. 

The failure to install the candidates chosen by the people, a 
contingency consequent upon no act of omission and beyond my 
control, has thus left me for the last three years and until now, 
when the Democratic party, by its Delegates in National Con- 
vention assembled, shall choose a new leader, the involuntary 
but necessary representative of this momentous issue. 



106 Official Proceedings of the 

As such, denied the immunities of private life, without the 
powers conferred by public station, subject to unceasing false- 
hoods and calumnies from the partisans of an administration 
laboring in vain to justify its existence, I have, nevertheless, 
steadfastly endeavored to preserve to the Democratic party of the 
United States the supreme issue before the people for their 
decision next November, whether this shall be a government by 
the sovereign people through elections, or a government by 
discarded servants holding over by force and fraud. And I have 
withheld no sacrifice and neglected no opportunity to uphold, 
organize, and consolidate against the enemies of representative 
institutions, the great party which alone under God can effect- 
ually resist their overthrow. 

Having now borne faithfully my full share of labor and care in 
the public service, and wearing the marks of its burdens, I desire 
nothing so much as an honorable discharge. I wish to lay down 
the honors and toils of even quasi party leadership, and to seek 
the repose of private life. 

In renouncing renomination for the Presidency, I do so with 
no doubt in my mind as to the vote of the State of New York, or 
of the United States, but because I believe that it is a renuncia- 
tion of re-election to the Presidency. 

To those who think my renomination and re-election indis- 
pensable to an effectual vindication of the right of the people to 
elect their rulers violated in my person, I have accorded as long 
a reserve of my decision as possible, but I can not overcome my 
repugnance to enter into a new engagement which involves four 
years of ceaseless toil. 

The dignity of the Presidential office is above a merely per- 
sonal ambition, but it creates in me no illusion Its value is as 
a great power for good to the country. I said four years ago, in 
accepting the nomination: 

"Knowing as I do, therefore, from fresh experience, how great 
the difference is between gliding through an official routine and 
working out a reform of systems and policies, it is impossible for 
me to contemplate what needs to be done in the Federal Admin- 
istration without an anxious sense of the difficulties of the un- 
dertaking. If summoned by the suffrages of my countrymen to 
attempt this work, I shall endeavor, with God's help, to be the 
efficient instrument of their will." 

Such a work of renovation, after many years of misrule, such a 
reform of systems and policies, to which I would cheerfully have 



National Democratic Convention. 107 

sacrificed all that remained to me of health and life, is now, I 
fear, beyond my strength. 

With unfeigned thanks for the honors bestowed upon me, with 

a heart swelling with emotions of gratitude to the Democratic 

masses for the support which they have given to the cause I 

represented, and their steadfast confidence in every emergency, 

I remain, your fellow-citizen, 

Samuel J. Tilden. 

Mr. 0. M. Thomas, of Kentucky : I have a resolution which I 
desire to read and to send to the Committee on Resolutions. 

The Chair : The following resolution is offered by the gentle- 
man from Kentucky, which will be read for the information of 
the Convention and referred to the Committee on Resolutions 
without debate. ' 

The Clerk read the following resolution: 

Resolved, That we denounce it as unconstitutional and unre- 
publican for any State to pass any law depriving any citizen of 
any political or civil privileges on account of his religious or irre- 
ligious belief. 

The Chair: The resolution goes to the Committee on Resolu- 
tions. The Convention will now continue the execution of the 
order of business. 

The Clerk then read the names of the candidates 
who were voted for on the preceding day, as follows: 

Winfield S Hancock. Samuel J. Randall 

Thomas F. Bayard. W. A. H. Loveland. 

Henry B. Payne. Jose E. McDonald. 

Allan G. Thurman. George B. McClellan. 

Stephen J. Field. Mr. Lothrop. 

William R. Morrison. Joel Parker. 

Thomas A Hendricks Hugh J. Jewett. 

Samuel J. Tilden. James E. English. 

Thomas Swing. Jeremiah Black. 
Horatio Seymour. 

Mr. I lark of Alabama: I desire to make a motion to correct 
the minutes. The name of our Secretary is F. S. Ferguson; it is 
reported as 1 ). S. Ferguson. 

The Chair : The correction will be made. 



108 Official Proceedings of the 

Mr. Clark : I ask that he be assigned the seat to which he ifl 
entitled as a Secretary of the Convention. 

The Chair : That will be done. 

The Clerk then called the roll as follows on the 
second ballot for a candidate for the Presidency, the 
Chairman of each State Delegation announcing the 
vote of his Delegation as his State was called. 

Alabama Hancock 11 

Bayard 5 

Field *. 4 

Arkansas Field 12 

California Hancock 5 

Field 5 

Hendricks «... 1 

Colorado Field 6 

Connecticut Bayard 1 

English 11 

Delaware Bayard 6 

Florida Bayard 8 

Georgia Hancock 7 

Bayard 5 

Field 10 

Illinois Hancock 42 

Indiana Hendricks ..30 

Iowa Hancock 9 

Bayard 1 

Randall 12 

Kansas Hancock 10 

Kentucky Hancock 8 

Bayard 7 

Tilden 3 

Field 4 

Thurman 2 

Louisiana Hancock 16 

Maine Hancock 14 

Maryland Bayard 16 

Massachusetts Hancock 11 

Bayard 7 

Randall 3£ 

Tilden... 2 

Field 1* 



National Democratic Convention. 109 



Michigan .....Hancock 14 

Bayard . 4 

English 2 

Randall 1 ^ t 

Tilden 1^ 

Minnesota Hancock 10 

Mississippi Hancock 6 

Bayard 8 

Field 2 

Missouri Hancock 28 

Bayard 2 

Nebraska Randall 6 

Nevada , Field 4 

Randall 1 

Thurman 1 

New Hampshire Hancock 5 

Randall 5 

New Jersey Hancock 7 

Bayard 4 

Parker 2 

Randall 4 

Jewett 1 

New York Randall 70 

North Carolina Hancock 20 

Ohio— 

Ohio asked leave to withdraw for consultation. 
Leave was granted, there being no objection. 

Oregon Field 6 

Pennsylvania — 

The Chairman said: 

The Chairman: The Delegation from Pennsylvania has not 
yet fully prepared her vote and desires to be passed for the 
present. 

The Chair: Does the State of Pennsylvania desire to vote? 

The Chairman of the Delegation from Pennsylvania: If the 
Convention will give us time to tally our vote, we will announce 
it. Otherwise we can not for a minute or two. 

The State of Pennsylvania was passed for the 
present. 



r *t* 



110 Official Proceedings of the 

Rhode Island Hancock 6 

Randal! 1 

English 1 

South Carolina Bayard 14 

Tennessee Hancock 14 

Bayard 8 

Field 2 

Texas Hancock 11 

Bayard 5 

Vermont Hancock 10 

Virginia Hancock 7 

Bayard 8 

Field 7 

West Virginia Hancock 7 

Bayard 1 

Thurman 2 

Wisconsin Hancock 10 

Bayard 2 

.Field 2 

English 5 

Thurman 1 

The State of Ohio having been allowed to withdraw 
was again called. Whereupon Mr. Hill of that State 
said : 

Mr. Hill: The Chairman of the Ohio Delegation is absent 
and the Delegation is itself absent except two or three Rut in 
obedience to the instructions of three hundred thousand Ohio 
Democrats I cast forty-four votes for Thurman. 

The Chair: The gentleman is out of order and will take his 
seat. 

Mr. McKinney of Ohio: The Ohio Delegation are consulting 
where there vote shall be cast. The gentleman has no authority 
to cast the vote for Thurman. 

The State of Pennsylvania having been passed, was 
again called and cast her vote as follows : 

Pennsylvania Hancock 31 

Bayard 1 

Randall 26 



National Democratic Convention. Ill 

The Ohio Delegation having returned, the Chairman 
announced her vote as follows : 

Ohio Thurman 44 

The Chairman of the Pennsylvania Delegation : Mr. Chair- 
man, I desire to correct the announcement of the vote from Penn- 
sylvania The vote should be : 

Pennsylvania... Hancock 32 

Randall 25 

Mr. James G. Jenkins, of Wisconsin : Mr. Chairman, I desire 
to ask permission to change the vote of Wisconsin. 

The Chair : The State of Wisconsin desires to change her 
vote. Is there any objection ? 

Mr. Beebe, of New York : I rise to a point of order. I make 
the point of order that no State can change its vote until the 
general vote is announced. 

The Chair: The rule seems to be otherwise. I will put it to 
the vote ; let the house decide. Shall the Sftate of Wisconsin be 
permitted to change her vote? 

Permission was granted upon the question being put. 

Mr. Jenkins, of Wisconsin : Wisconsin casts twenty votes for 
Hancock. 

Mr. Stockton, of New Jersey : Mr. Chairman, New Jersey de- 
sires to change her vote, and to cast eighteen votes for Hancock. 

There being no objection, Mr. Stockton announced 
the vote of Xew Jersey as follows : 

New Jersey Hancock 18 

Mr. Malcolm Hay, of Pennsylvania : Mr. Chairman, Penn- 
sylvania is proud of her sons and she has here presented and 
voted for two of the noblest of them all; one of them, sir, one of 
the most famous soldiers of the Union, and the other, one of the 
first statesmen in the land. She is proud of them both, and glad 
to see that in a National Convention you, the assembled Demo- 
crats of the Union have come to a selection between those two 
men. It is a gratification to Pennsylvania, and an honor to each 
of them. Mr. Chairman, in behalf of the united Delegation from 
Pennsylvania I ask leave to change the vote of Pennsylvania and 
make it fifty-eight votes for Hancock. 



112 Official Proceedings of the 

At this point the banners of the different States were 

brought forward, and there was great confusion, cheers, 

etc. When order was restored, Hon. Smith M. Weed, 

of New York, said: 

Mr. Weed, of New York : Mr. Chairman, the Delegation from 
the State of New York have instructed me to change the seventy 
votes of that State from that distinguished statesman of Penn- 
sylvania, Hon. Samuel J. Randall, to that equally distinguished 
and illustrious statesman and soldier of the same State, General 
Winfield Scott Hancock, 

As General Hancock had received up to the point 
of the change of the vote of New York three hundred 
and eight}^-four votes out of the four hundred and 
ninety-two necessary for a choice, this announcement 
of Mr. Weed's that the seventy votes of New York 
were to be accredited to Hancock, was the signal for a 
most tremendous burst of enthusiasm; it became evi- 
dent that having already received four hundred and 
fifty-four votes he was the coming man. Every Dele- 
gate was on his feet, and the roar of ten thousand 
voices completely drowned the full military band in 
the gallery. The great National Democratic Conven- 
tion of 1880 became a high carnival of enthusiasm. 
The mighty audience rose to its feet and hats, banners, 
handkerchiefs, everything Avhich could be waved, was 
put to that use. The enthusiasm reached its climax 
when Hon. Alexander Long, of Ohio, having obtained 
recognition from the Chair said : 

Mr. Long, of Ohio: Mr. Chairman, the Ohio Delegation desires 
me to withdraw the name of Allan G. Thurman and to cast her 
forty-four votes for Winfield Scott Hancock. 

The Chair : New York changes her seventy votes from Samuel 
J. Randall to Winfield Scott Hancock. Ohio withdraws the 
name of Allan G. Thurman and casts her forty-four votes for 
Winfield Scott Hancock. 



National Democratic Convention. 113 

Mr. Preston, of Kentucky : I am instructed by the Delegates 
from Kentucky to ask the privilege to change its vote. That 
vote will be materially altered. I ask therefore the privilege 
of five minutes to correct the vote we have already recorded. I 
cast eighteen votes for Hancock, five votes for Bayard, and one 
for Tburman. 

Dr. George L. Miller, of Nebraska : Mr. President, Nebraska 
desires to change her six votes to Winfield Scott Hancock. 

Mr. A. E. Barr, of Connecticut : Mr. Chairman, Connecticut 
desires to change her twelve votes to Winfield Scott Hancock. 

Mr. Bocock, of Virginia : Mr. Chairman, Virginia has ever 
thought that the military should be subordinate to the civil 
service ; but while she has ever had a warm and cordial admira- 
tion for General Hancock, she thought it expedient to place one 
of the first statesmen in the Presidential nomination ; the grand 
Democratic party having decided otherwise, Virginia with the 
same cordial admiration for General Hancock embraces her Demo- 
cratic brethren of other States and greets the patriotic soldier by 
casting her twenty-two votes for General Winfield Scott Hancock. 

Mr. Stonehill, of Nevada : Mr. Chairman, Nevada desires to 
change her six votes to Winfield Scott Hancock. 

Colonel John H. George, of New Hampshire : Mr. Chairman, 
I move that the roll be re-called so that each State may express 
its choice anew. 

The Chair: It is moved and seconded that the call of the 
States be made anew, in order to save confusion and to allow the 
tally clerks to record the votes, so that if there be a unanimous 
vote it can now be recorded. Beginning at the first of the States 
and making the call anew. 

This motion was carried. 

The Clerk called the roll for the correction and veri- 
fication of the ballot, with the changes as herein re- 
corded, with the following result: 



114 



Official Pkoceedings of the 



States. 



Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida.. 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.... 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire. 

New Jersey 

New York 

North Carolina... 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania — 
Rhode Island — 
South Carolina... 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

West Virginia 



Total 



20 

12 

12 

6 

12 



22 

42 



21 
10 

24 
16 

14 
14 
2(3 
22 
10 
1(3 
30 



10 
18 

70 
20 
44 

6 
58 

8 
14 
24 
16 
10 
22 
20 
10 



705 



30 



30 



The Secretary announced the vote as follows : 

Total number of votes cast 738 

Necessary lor a choice 492 

Of which the following candidates received : 

Bayard • 2 

Tilden - 1 

Hendricks 30 

Hancock • 705 



National Democratic Convention. 115 

This announcement was received by a renewal of the 
demonstrations of enthusiasm. 

The Chair : I take pleasure in introducing to you, Judge Mack 
of Indiana. 

ADDRESS OF HON. WILLIAM MACK. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention : Indiana 
desires to be heard. [The speaker was interrupted by some hisses 
and confusion in the galleries.] I know no reason why Demo- 
crats should hiss at the name of the Hoosier State, or of its can- 
didate. I trust they do not come from Democratic lips. 

I arise in behalf of the brave Democracy of Indiana to move 
that the nomination of General Hancock be made unanimous in 
this Convention. 

We came here instructed for Governor Hendricks. We knew 
that he was honest, capable, faithful to the constitutions Na- 
tional and State, and we thought he could be elected, and we 
knew he could carry Indiana. The second choice of Indiana is 
Winfield S. Hancock. And now, gentlemen of the Convention, 
when you hear from Indiana, you will find that we have again 
turned the right flank of the Republican party. And when we 
do it this time, we will expect our friends in New York and Con- 
necticut to attend to the left flank, while the solid South comes 
up behind us. "And this time when we have driven them, as we 
did before from the field of honorable competition and warfare, 
behind the bulwarks, and into the ditches of fraud and perjury, 
we do not propose to cease our labors, but drive them from power 
entirely. 

The Chair : Gentlemen, I have the pleasure of introducing 
to you a distinguished statesman who has been voted for for 
President, and who desires to second the nomination. I present 
to you. Samuel J. Randall, of Pennsylvania. 

ADDRESS OF HON. SAMUEL J. RANDALL. 

Fellow-Democrats : I am here to second the nomination of 
Pennsylvania's son, General Hancock. Your deliberations have 
been marked with the utmost harmony, and your act to-day is 
an impress of the heart of the American Democrat in every State 
in the Union. Not only is your nomination strong, but it is one 
that will bring us victory, and will add another State to the 



116 



Official Proceedings of the 



Democratic column, the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
the keystone of the Federal arch. Not only is this acceptable to 
every Democrat in the United States, but it is a nomination 
which will command the respect of the entire American people. 

I will not detain you longer than to say that you will find me 
in the front rank of this conflict, second to none, and that all my 
energies, intellectual and physical, shall be exerted from now 
until we shall all rejoice in the common victory on the November 
Tuesday coming. There is a great mission ahead for the Demo- 
cratic party, and you have selected a standard bearer whose very 
nomination means rally! The people will rally around your 
choice, and he will be inaugurated. 

I thank you for this cordial greeting, and I beg of you not to 
suppose for a moment that I am in the least discomfited, but, on 
the contrary, my whole heart goes forth with your voice, and I 
will yield to no man in the effort which shall be made in behalf 
of your ticket chosen to-day. 

The Chair : I have the honor to present to you, Senator Wal- 
lace, of Pennsylvania, who desires to assure you that Pennsyl- 
vania is safe for Hancock. 

ADDRESS OF HON. W. A. WALLACE. 



Gentlemen of the Convention : On behalf of the great key- 
stone of the Union, our Delegation in this Convention sends to 
you thanks and greetings. 

History repeats itself. In this great city of Cincinnati, the 
Democrats of the Nation named their last President. And to-day 
they name the next. History repeats itself. In those days they 
named a son of Pennsylvania ; and to-day again they inscribe 
upon the banners of the Democracy the name of the gallant son 
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He will lead us to vic- 
tory ; his name is invincible. The word rings out all along the 
lines "Advance the column ! Move on the enemy's works! Let 
there be no defense, but aggression, aggression, aggression ! and 
victory is ours ! " 

On behalf of that great Commonwealth, as one of her sons, I 
come here to assure you that I feel, as does every member of her 
Delegation, that you have given us in this nomination the means 
once more of placing the keystone in the arch of Democratic 
States. And when November shall have come you will find that 
the energies of those who now clasp hands in behalf of this our 



National Democratic Convention. 117 

standard bearer, will have worked wonders in that Common- 
wealth. We are one, and as one we will be victorious. 

The Chair: South Carolina speaks to you. I present to you 
General Wade Hampton, of South Carolina. 

ADDRESS OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention : On be- 
half of the solid South, that South which once was arrayed 
against the great soldier of Pennsylvania, in their name and in 
behalf of that South, I stand here to pledge you its solid vote. 

We will prove no laggards in this great race for constitutional 
government, for home rule, and for freedom all over this great 
land. There is no name which is held in higher respect among 
the people of the South than that of the man whom you have 
given us as our standard bearer. We have met him on the battle- 
field ; we knew then that he was a brave, a gallant, and an able 
soldier, one who always conducted war upon civilized principles ; 
and when the war ended, he was among the first to extend his 
knightly hand to aid the people who had been fighting against 
him. We recognize that, and recognizing it, we will give him a 
cordial, a hearty, and an earnest support. And in the name of 
South Carolina, that State which has so lately come into the 
sisterhood of States, that State which was so overwhelmingly 
Republican that we scarcely dared to count the Democratic vote, 
in behalf of that State I here pledge myself, and if work, if zeal-, 
if energy can do anything, I pledge the people of South Carolina 
to give as large a Democratic vote as any other State in the 
Union. 

The Chair : I present to you, Hon. George Hoadly, of Ohio. 

ADDRESS OF JUDGE HOADLY. 

Gentlemen of the Convention : Ohio sends me here to second 
the motion. Ohio is on the right of the field of combat. Along 
the skirmish line Ohio stands upon the right and Indiana upon 
the left. Victory in October in Ohio is a unanimous vote in 
November, all along the line. 

Men of Ohio, Fellow-Delegates from Ohio, in the presence of 
the magnificent assembly of the Democrats of the Union, I wish 
to say for you these words : sixty-seven years ago in the darkness 
of the night amid the thunderings of the great cataract, when 
the hosts of American soldiers met the embattled redcoats at 



118 Official Proceedings of the 

Lundy's Lane, Jacob Brown said to John Miller : " See that bat- 
tery ? Go and take it ! " John Miller answered : " General, I 
will try." And did it. You have commanded us to take the 
Garfield battery; we will try. With the good God with us, with 
the holy cause our own, the Democracy of other States sending 
their silver-tongued orators to our help, we will do it. And 
when on the 4th of March next, our gallant leader, Winfield 
Scott Hancock, shall have inscribed his name at the foot of the 
inaugural message, there will be re-called to every memory that 
other glorious day, that other glorious declaration of indepen- 
dence, signed by John Hancock. 

The Chair: The motion has been made that the nomination 
of Winfield Scott Hancock for the Democratic candidate for the 
Presidency of the United States be declared unanimous. 

The motion was carried unanimously. 

The Chair : The Chair has the honor to present to the Con- 
vention Senator Voorhees, of Indiana. 

ADDRESS OF HON. D. W. VOORHEES. 

Ladies and Gentlemen : This is no time for words or for 
speech making, and I arise simply to say, that though somewhat 
sore hearted, the Democracy of Indiana know their duty, and 
that duty will be performed in the coming contest under the 
gallant leadership of the nominee which has been given us. We 
had hoped to follow our own gifted and distinguished statesman ; 
but we will with none the less alacrity and cheerfulness send 
forth the tidings of a victory in October, followed by another in 
November under the leadership of General Hancock. 

This is a great spectacle here to-day. It is full of bright and 
glorious omens for the future. It is a solid ratification of recon- 
ciliation between two great sections of this country. You have 
heard much of the confederate brigadier; I know him, and I know 
his honor and his chivalry. General Hancock knows him, too, 
and knows that in this charge, in this great battle for constitu- 
tional liberty, he can rely upon the confederate brigadier with 
as much confidence as he ever relied upon the Union soldier dur- 
ing the war of the rebellion. 

It is not because of General Hancock's flashing career as a 
military man merely, that he has won the heart of his country. 
I venture to say there never was a nomination made which was 
so utterly destitute of preparation and preliminary management, 



National Democratic Convention. 119 

as this which has been made to-day ; and why ? The spectacle 
of a military man subordinating the military to the civil power, 
is one of the most pleasant spectacles of history. That is the 
reason why General Hancock has won upon the heart of his 
country. Washington was a soldier ; but his greatest achieve- 
ment was when he said that the laws of his country were above 
the sword and above the military power. Hancock won renown 
upon many battle-fields, shed his blood upon many battle-fields, 
rode down the line as proud a figure in military history as Mar- 
shal Ney or any other marshal that ever commanded men. But 
his proudest act was, when placed in command of what was 
thought by our radical opponents, crushed, broken, and ruined 
States, he had the manliness, he had the sagacity, he had the 
patriotism, to lift up the downtrodden civil authorities; to say, 
14 Soldier though I am, the laws that protect freedom of speech, 
trial by jury, and the habeas corpus, shall be upheld, if need be 
by the sword." 

He spoke for civil liberty, when it was overthrown throughout 
one-half of this country. He made a second declaration of inde- 
pendence for the Southern States ; he made a second declaration 
of constitutional liberty, and set an example for his own, and for 
all future generations, of obedience to that great framework de- 
vised by our fathers, protected by their followers and enjoyed by 
us. He is worthy of your confidence. He is a proud leader in 
war, and a still prouder leader in peace; and on the wisdom, for- 
titude, conscience, and patience of a man like that we can trust 
the institutions of this beloved land of ours. 

The Chair : The Empire State of New York desires to add a 
word. I introduce to the Convention Hon. Lester B. Faulkner, 
of New York. 

ADDRESS OF HON. L. B. FAULKNER. 

Mr. President, and Fellow-Democrats : You have heard 
from the State which four years ago gave you a candidate for the 
Vice-Presidency of the United States. I am instructed to utter to 
3 ou the voice of that great Commonwealth from which, in the per- 
son of the most illustrious of her governors, you took your candi- 
date for the first place in the Federal Government. That choice 
was ratified by the American people. That choice was defeated 
by one vote in the electoral commission ; and the conspirator who 
cast that vote is now presented by his party as a fit candidate to 
be rewarded by the high office which his ballot had purloined. 



120 Official Proceedings of the 

On such a question, — the question whether the Presidency of 
the United States, having been once stolen, shall now be made 
the reformatory for political outcasts, — New York, imperial in her 
strength, will speak in November with a decisive voice. 

The Chair : Gentlemen of the Convention : In 1801, when 
Thomas Jefferson brought his great power in favor of popular 
rights against arbitral power, he had the aid of John Breckin- 
ridge, of Kentucky. Winfield Scott Hancock will have the aid 
of another Breckinridge, whom I now introduce to you from the 
same State. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, then took the plat- 
form. 

ADDRESS OF MR. W. C P. BRECKINRIDGE. 

Mr. President : We have to-day beaten our swords into prun- 
ing hooks, with which we will in November reap the glorious 
autumnal harvest of success. We have to-day in no uncertain 
tone, declared in this border city upon the shore of the beautiful 
river, looking across upon the hills of Kentucky, that we are a 
united people, with no North, no South, but one country. I love 
that South; I was born upon her soil; I was willing to give to 
her my life; but to-day I stand upon the higher level of an 
American citizen. It is our star spangled banner that we unfurl 
to-day, and put upon it an historic name, the name of a man 
whose blood has been given for its defense. Let us rise to the 
level of this single and lofty thought : we are legislating not for 
to-day, but for the future ; not for a section, but for the Nation ; 
not for a party, but for a people. And it is a national candidate 
to be elected by the people at the polls that we have put out this 
day in the name of the Democratic party. 

It seemed to be not inappropriate to the Kentucky Delegation 
that to-day with all the clustering memories of the past twenty- 
five years gathering around this assembly at this place, some one 
from that State should in this formal way, second that nomina- 
tion and pledge for it the twelve electoral votes of Kentucky. 
As for us in Kentucky, we always vote the Democratic ticket. 
As my friend has referred to it, eighty-two years ago Kentucky 
took her place at the head of the Democratic column, and she 
stands there to-day under the grandsons of the sires who won 
that battle. With her there is neither variableness nor shadow 
of change. But what say you, gentlemen of the doubtful States ? 



National Democratic Convention. 121 

What says New York? Can you carry this ticket? [Cries of 
"Yes, yes, we will, we will."] Can you carry Pennsylvania? 
[Cries of " Yes, we can."] What says the eloquent McSweeney, 
and the glorious Delegates and Democracy of Ohio? [A voice, 
"We will come out four hundred thousand strong."] Hurrah, 
for Ohio! What says that gallant little eastern State, Con- 
necticut, with her Ingersoll and her English ? Can we have you 
with us in November ? [Cries from the Connecticut Delegation, 
" Yes, yes, by ten thousand majority."] What will be the voice 
of the State of Parker and McClellan, and Randolph, the glorious 
State of New Jersey ? [Cries of " Hancock ! Hancock ! " and 
cheers, from the Delegation from New Jersey.] I need not ask 
that most determined, most persistent, and most self-sacrificing 
Democracy in the Union, the Democracy of Hendricks and Eng- 
lish, and Voorhees and McDonald ; will you do for us this time as 
you did four years ago ? [Cries of " We will, we will."] 

My fellow-citizens, I would love to live to see the day when we 
did not have to win by a solid South, and doubtful States in the 
North. I would love to see the day when the Democracy will 
become that old Democracy that she was before, so that there 
might be no longer divisions among us, that we might cease to 
hear of East and West, North and South, and hear only of Ameri- 
can Democracy, and American Freemen. And to-day before this 
magnificent audience, in this gorgeous temple, I invoke God to 
bless the people, and give to us, the sons of liberty, a triumphant 
victory. 

The Chair : It gives me great pleasure to announce to you, 
that in making the nomination you have made to-day, for the 
Presidency of the United States, you have reunited the gallant 
Democracy of New York. And those who have been temporarily 
absent from this council, come to-day to announce to you that 
they give in their allegiance to the Democracy, and to the sup- 
port of your ticket. Mr. John Kelly, of New York, is invited 
by me to take the platform. 

ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN KELLY. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention : Your 
Chairman has told you that by your action to-day in nominating 
General Hancock for President, you have united the Democracy 
of the State of New York, He has told you truly. Notwith- 
standing the facts that the Democrats whom I have the honor to 
represent, and my brethren here on my right, have been fighting 



122 Official Proceedings of the 

each other politically for the last five years, they all, no doubt, 
will agree with the sentiment I arn now about to utter: "Let 
past differences be banished from our midst forever." I am not 
going to speak to you now of the political dissensions which have 
troubled us in the great State of New York. Let them be forgot- 
ten. Nor of what has occurred since we came to the city of Cin- 
cinnati. 

Never again shall I animadvert upon the political events in 
New York which have divided me and my friends here in the 
past. We have disagreed in matters of a political nature simply. 
Our personal relations were never severed, though sometimes in 
the sharp conflicts in which we were engaged we may have used 
angry words, and indulged in bitter criticisms of each others' 
political course, but when the sober second thought came, when 
we have had time to reflect, like sensible men, we acknowledged 
the error. And now on this great occasion, let us go a step far- 
ther, and extending the hand of fellowship, willingly ask each 
others' forgiveness. I think these gentlemen will agree with me, 
that our great State can not be carried unless there shall be a 
united Democracy at this juncture; and now being united, I 
think it is safe for me to say to this Convention, there can be 
no doubt as to what the result will be in the Empire State in 
November. 

Gentlemen of the Convention, you have nominated not only 
a great soldier, but a statesman. When entrusted with power 
by the government after the restoration of peace, General Han- 
cock recollected that he owed to the people of this country a 
constitutional duty. The party then in control expected of him 
that, clothed with military authority as he was, he would require 
that military rule should take the place of the civil power, but 
he, like a sensible man, a true patriot, a noble American, said in 
effect, " Let the civil power first be tried ; and when the military 
is called upon to suppress riot, to maintain the constitution and 
the laws, or to uphold the majesty of the government, I am always 
your servant." 

Gentlemen, you have nominated the soldier who, at a time of 
great excesses and abuse of power on the part of others, held the 
principles of civil liberty sacred, and had the patriotic courage to 
proclaim them as the fixed rule of his conduct. We have had a 
great civil war, and true patriotism should dictate to us that in 
order not to distrust our fraternal relations, it should never be 
referred to except as a matter of history. I think you have 



National Democratic Convention. 123 

proved your wisdom and patriotism in the nomination you have 
made ; for General Hancock is a gentleman, a soldier, a statesman, 
and a Democrat, against whom nothing can be said. 

Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, had his 
phalanx. When the soldiers of Macedonia met with a reverse 
and defeat was imminent, the invincible phalanx came to the 
rescue, and led the Greek standards to victory. We can truly 
say of General Hancock, the surviving hero of Gettysburg, that 
he too has his phalanx in the hearts of the American soldiers, 
not only of those whom he led in battle, but of those against 
whom he led them, the soldiers of the North and the South alike, 
as well as in the hearts of the whole American people. 

Now, Mr. Chairman, I shall say to the members of this Con- 
vention, as I have said to my brethren from the State of New 
York sitting here as Delegates, "Let us return to our respective 
States, let us organize our party everywhere, as I know we will, 
and work with all the energy and zeal which a great cause should 
inspire in every patriotic heart from this day to the day of elec- 
tion.' 7 And, in regard to New York, the man who once refers to 
the history of the past, and the political animosities which have 
existed in that State, let him, whoever he may be, be looked upon 
as a traitor to the cause. 

Mr. Chairman, I thank this Convention for the kind reception 
it has given me. I shall say nothing against the action taken 
here in relation to the organization which I in part represent. 
Let all that pass away. I promise the Convention in my humble 
way, and with my poor services, to do everything in my power 
from this day forth until the day of election, to elect the Demo- 
cratic ticket. 

And in conclusion allow me to say again to my friends on the 
right from the State of New York, let us once and for all take 
each other by the hand, and frankly admit on all sides that we 
have a nobler duty to perform than to be fighting each other 
politically in our own State. Let us unite as a band of brothers, 
and look on each other kindly and favorably; and when we act 
together, united as we must be, let me pledge the Convention 
again, that there can be no question whatever as to the result. 

The Chair: 1 have the honor to present to the Convention 
the Hon. John R. Fellows, of New York. 

Colonel Fellows desired to address the Convention 
from his seat; but in obedience to repeated and per- 



124 Official Proceedings of the 

sistent demands that he should take the platform, he 
did so, and spoke as follows: 

ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN R. FELLOWS. 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I am 
in no form for speech making. Almost completely exhausted by 
the labors of this Convention, utterly without voice, I needed all 
the inspiration that the surroundings could give me, in order to 
enable me to respond to your call ; and therefore I preferred to 
speak from my seat. I wanted to gather inspiration from look- 
ing in that direction (indicating the ladies' gallery) instead of 
that (pointing to the audience) ; I could have made a better 
speech down there. But you have commanded me and I obey. 

Gentlemen of the United States, your action to-day has been 
superb. You have restored all differences existing in the ranks 
of the Democratic party. You have healed all dissensions. We 
may march under the division banners of different generals, but 
we march to one battle-field to fight one common foe. Henceforth 
that man is our friend who best assists in carrying that banner 
to victory. That man is our enemy and only he, who lags in his 
duty in that respect. But you have done more. Aye, infinitely 
more than to have settled the discords of a State. You have 
strangled by your strong hands to-day the giant of discord and 
strife which has dominated our greater country. The South and 
the North clasp hands now in no unmeaning ceremony, and 
Hancock shall hear again the roar of Hampton's guns in friendly 
greeting. 

All over this land by the success of this ticket comes the re- 
turn of fraternal concord, of brotherly love, of the olden glow. 
You have restored us to a common union. Gentlemen, upon all 
the great marts of prosperity of the North, upon the stricken and 
impoverished South, upon the graves where our dead repose, and 
in the homes where the living mourn, there shall fall a benedic- 
tion, as though it was descended direct from God, the benediction 
of a just, perpetual, enduring peace. 

I can not speak. I only stop to say that New York has but one 
response to make to Democratic nominations : She gives Demo- 
cratic majorities. We shall march over that State as though 
we were sweeping it with a tornado, with Hancock at our head. 
Montauk will call to the cataract at Niagara, and everywhere 
along the route the swelling chorus of Democratic voices shall 



National Democratic Convention. 125 

make music for the entire Nation, until we write on our banner 
in NoVember " fifty thousand majority in the name of the 
united Democracy as the tribute of the Empire State." 

At the close of the address of Colonel Fellows, Miss 
Susau B. Anthony was escorted to the platform, and 
presented to the Convention the following memorial, 
which was read by the Clerk: 

the national woman suffrage association. 

To the Democratic Party in 

Nominating Convention Assembled: 

Cincinnati, June 22, 1880. 

On behalf of the women of the country we appear before you, 
asking from you the recognition of woman's political rights as 
one-half of the people. We ask no special privileges, no special 
legislation. On the contrary, that special privileges, special legis- 
lation shall be done away. We demand nothing contrary to the 
principles of the Democratic party ; we simply ask that you shall 
live up to the principles enunciated by you from the time of 
Jefferson. 

By what principle of Democracy do men assume to legislate 
for women ? Women are part of the people. Your very name 
signifies government of the people — not one-half of the people, 
but the people — of which women are a component part. When 
you deny political rights to women you deny your own princi- 
ples — are false to your own principles. 

The declaration of independence recognized human rights as 
its great basis. Constitutions should also be general in character. 
But in opposition to this principle the party in power for the last 
twenty years debased the constitution of the United States by the 
introduction of the word "male" three times, thereby limiting 
the application of their added guarantees to a special class. It 
should be your duty and your pride to balance this unjust, special 
recognition of male rights by an amendment that will protect 
the rights of all citizens of the United States, and in so doing 
place the constitution upon a true basis. 

We call your attention to the first principles of government, 
not only as enunciated by our Nation, but as acknowledged by all 
philosophers : 



126 



Official Proceedings of the 



First — The natural rights of individuals. 

Second — The exact equality of those rights. 

Our government was framed upon a recognition of equal, indi- 
vidual rights. We here beg your remembrance that equality of 
rights is not based upon identity, a fact established by the differ- 
ence between man and man. These first principles of govern- 
ment rest upon the fact of individual responsibility. The very 
existence of law presupposes responsibility, presupposes the power 
of self-government. Natural rights are absolute, permanent, un- 
changeable, though their degree of recognition depends upon 
national development. 

Not for the first time do we make of you these demands. At 
your nominating Convention in New York, in 1868, Susan B. 
Anthony appeared before you, asking recognition of woman's in- 
herent, natural rights. At your Convention of 1872, in Baltimore, 
Isabella Beecher Hooker and Susan B Anthony made similar ap- 
peal. In 1876, at St. Louis, Phoebe W. Cousins and Virginia L. 
Minor presented our claims. You therefore, during these j'ears, 
have not been ignorant of our demands. Now, in 1880, our Dele- 
gates are present here in Cincinnati from the great Middle States, 
from the West, and from the South. The women of the South are 
rapidly uniting in their demand for the same political recogni- 
tion accorded to their former field slaves. Oppressed as all women 
have been, the Southern women have been the most deeply hu- 
miliated by a recognition of political rights as pertaining to sex 
alone. 

To secure to twenty millions of women the rights of citizenship 
is to base your party on the eternal principles of justice ; it is to 
make yourselves the party of the future ; it is to do away with a 
more extended slavery than that of four millions of blacks ; it is 
to secure political freedom to half the Nation ; it is to establish 
on this continent the Democratic theory of the rights of the peo- 
ple. It is policy for you ; it is justice for you. It is justice to us. 

In furtherance of this demand we ask you to pledge yourselves 
to secure to the women of the Nation a recognition of their rights 
of self-government by placing in your platform the following 
plank : 

Whereas, Believing in the self-evident truth that all persons 
are created with certain inalienable rights, and that for the pro- 
tection of these rights governments are instituted, deriving their 
just powers from t>he consent of the governed ; therefore, 



National Democratic Convention. 



127 



Resolved, That the Democratic party pledges itself to use all its 
powers to secure to the women of the Nation protection in the 
exercise of their rights of suffrage. 

On behalf of the National Woman Suffrage Association. 

Matilda Joslyn Gage, Chm'n Executive Committee. 
Susan B. Anthony, Vice-President at Large. 
Sarah Andrew Spencer, Corresponding Secretary. 
Ellen H. Sheldon, Recording Secretary. 
Jang H. Spofford, Treasurer. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 



P. Holmes Drake Alabama. 

Helen Martin Arkansas. 

Ellen Clarke Sargent.... California. 

Alida C. Avery Colorado. 

Isabella B. Hooker Connecticut. 

A. W. Howard .....Dakota. 

Mary A. Stuart Delaware. 

Belva A. Lockwood Dist. of Col. 

Hannah M. Rogers Florida. 

Martha L. Fort Georgia. 

Elizabeth B. Harbert Illinois. 

Mary E. Haggart Indiana. 

Nancy R. Ai.lex Iowa. 

Jennie St. John.... Kansas. 

Sallie Clay Bennett Kentucky. 

Elizabeth L. Saxon Louisiana. 

Lucy A. Snowe Maine. 

Nancy M. Baird Maryland. 

Harriet H. Robinson. Massachusetts. 
Catherine A. F. Stebbins.. Michigan. 



Laura Ross "Wolcott Wisconsin. 

Sarah Berger Stearns. ...Minnesota. 

Virginia L. Minor Missouri. 

Fanny Colby Nebraska. 

Hannah R. Clapp Nevada. 

Mary P. Filley New Hampshire. 

Cornelia C. Hussey New Jersey. 

Lillie Devereux Blake... New York. 

| Mary Bayard Clark N. Carolina. 

I Rosa L. Segur Ohio. 

i Abigail Scott Duniway Oregon. 

Rachel G. Foster Pennsylvania. 

Mary F. Channing.... Rhode Island. 

Martha Scofield. ...South Carolina. 

Elizabeth A. Meriwether Tenn. 

Martha G. Tunstall Texas. 

Emmeline B. Wells Utah. 

Sarah M. Lynde Vermont. 

Orra Langhorne Virginia. 

Abbie H. Stuart.. ..Washington Ter. 



The Chair: The Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions 
will now present the report of that committee, and the platform . 

Hon. Henry Watterson, of Kentucky, Chairman oft/ 
the Committee on Resolutions, then read the following 



DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. 

The Democrats of the United States, in Convention assembled, 
declare : 

1. We pledge ourselves anew to the constitutional doctrines 
and traditions of the Democratic party as illustrated by the teach- 
ings and example of a long line of Democratic statesmen and 



128 Official Proceedings of the 

patriots, and embodied in the platform of the last National Con- 
vention of the party. 

2. Opposition to centralization and to that dangerous spirit 
of encroachment which tends to consolidate the powers of all the 
departments in one, and thus to create whatever be the form of 
government, a real despotism. No sumptuary laws; separation 
of Church and State for the good of each ; common schools fos- 
tered and protected. 

3. Home rule ; honest money, consisting of gold and silver, 
and paper convertible into coin on demand ; the strict mainte- 
nance of the public faith, State and National, and a tariff for 

! revenue only. 
,,^/. ( 4. The subordination of the military to the civil power, and a 
genuine and thorough reform of the civil service. 

5. The right to a free ballot is a right preservative of all 
rights, and must and shall be maintained in every part of the 
United States. 

6. The existing administration is the representative of con- 
spiracy only, and its claim of right to surround the ballot boxes 
with troops and deputy marshals, to intimidate and obstruct the 
election, and the unprecedented use of the veto to maintain its 
corrupt and despotic powers, insult the people and imperil their 
institutions. 

7. We execrate the course of this administration in making 
places in the civil service a reward for political crime, and de- 
mand a reform by statute which shall make it forever impossible 
for a defeated candidate to bribe his way to the seat of a usurper 
by billeting villains upon the people. 

8. The great fraud of 1876-77, by which, upon a false count of 
the electoral votes of two States, the candidate defeated at the 
polls was declared to be President,, and for the first time in Ameri- 
can history the will of the people was set aside under a threat of 
military violence, struck a deadly blow at our system of repre- 
sentative government. The Democratic party, to preserve the 
country from the horrors of a civil war, submitted for the time 
in firm and patriotic faith that the people would punish this 
crime in 1880. This issue precedes and dwarfs every other. It 
imposes a more sacred duty upon the people of the Union than 
ever addressed the consciences of a nation of freemen. 

9. The resolution of Samuel J. Tilden not again to be a candi- 
date for the exalted place to which he was elected by a majority 






National Democratic Convention. 129 

of his countrymen, and from which he was excluded by the 
leaders of the Republican party, is received by the Democrats of 
the United States with deep sensibility, and they declare their 
confidence in his wisdom, patriotism, and integrity, unshaken by 
the assaults of the common enemy; and they further assure him 
that he is followed into the retirement he has chosen for himself 
by the sympathy and respect of his fellow-citizens, who regard 
him as one who, by elevating the standard of public morality and 
adorning and purifying the public service, merits the lasting 
gratitude of his country and his party. 

10. Free ships and a living chance for American commerce 
on the seas, and on the land no discrimination in favor of trans- 
portation lines, corporations, or monopolies. 

11. Amendment of the Burlingame treaty. No more Chinese 
immigration, except for travel, education, and foreign commerce, 
and that even carefully guarded. 

12. Public money and public credit for public purposes solely, 
and public land for actual settlers. 

13. The Democratic party is the friend of labor and the labor- 
ing man, and pledges itself to protect him alike against the cor- 
morants and the commune. 

14. We congratulate the country upon the honesty and thrift 
of a Democratic Congress which has reduced the public expendi- 
tures 810,000,000 a year; upon the continuation of prosperity at 
home, and the national honor abroad, and, above all, upon the 
promise of such a change in the administration of the govern- 
ment as shall insure us genuine and lasting reform in every de- 
partment of the public service.- 

The platform was unanimously adopted. 

Thh: Chatr: The following telegram has been received which 
the Secretary will read. The telegram comes from the home of 
General Grant. 

The Clerk read the telegram as follows: 

Georgetown, Ohio, June 24, 1880. 
To Governor Sierenson, Chairman 

National Democratic Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio : 
The boyhood home of Grant enthusiastic over the nomination of Hancock. 
Democrats indorse it with great enthusiasm. Hancock and victory ! 

David Tauhkll. 
9 



130 Official Proceedings of the 

The Clerk: A dispatch just received by the Chairman, from 
Indiana, says: "Guns are roaring throughout its borders." 
[The same news comes to the Chairman from the State of New 
York.] 

Geo. W. McGranie, of Louisiana: Mr. Chairman, I offer the fol- 
lowing resolution : 

Resolved, That the great principles of American liberty are the 
lawful inheritance of this people, and ever should be. The right 
of trial by jury, the writ of habeas corpus, the liberty of the press, 
the freedom of speech, the natural rights of persons, and the 
rights of people must be preserved. 

The Chair : The resolution goes to the Committee on Reso- 
lutions without debate, under the rules of the Convention. 

Mr. P. A. Collins, of Massachusetts: I desire to offer a resolu- 
tion which I will now read : 

Resolved, That the National Committee be instructed to pro- 
vide, at the next National Convention, seats and accommodations 
for Delegates, Alternates and Members of the Press, but none 
others; to the end that the Convention may be in all respects a 
deliberate body. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky: I move that the Convention 
take a recess until 5 o'clock. [Cries of "No," "no." Motion with- 
drawn.] 

The Chair : What action will the Convention take upon the 
resolution of the gentleman from Massachusetts? 

Mr. M. C. Huling, of Vermont : The Secretary of the National 
Committee has done all in his power to secure seats and accom- 
modations for all the Delegates, and the Convention should also 
do all in their power to accommodate the Press. There are men 
here, however, who have come five or six thousand miles to this 
Convention; and I do say that if we have room in the hall they 
have a right to listen to our deliberations and see what we do. 

Mr. B. B. Smalley, of Vermont : I move to lay the resolution 
of the gentleman from Massachusetts on the table. 

The call for the roll of States was made on this ques- 
tion. 

The Chair: It requires the vote of two States to maintain a 
call for the roll of the States. Is there a second ? 



National Democratic Convention. 131 

There being no second, the motion to lay on the 
table was put and carried. The resolution was there- 
fore laid on the table. 

Joseph Pulitzer, of Missouri : I move that we now proceed to 
complete the ticket by the nomination of the next Vice-Presi- 
dent of the United States. 

This motion was carried. 

The Chair : The Secretary will proceed to call the States. 
The Clerk then called the roll of the States. 

Alabama — The Chairman of the Alabama Delegation said: 
Alabama desires to ma.ke a nomination for Vice-President. 

General E. W. Pettns, of Alabama, then ascended 
the platform and was presented to the Convention. 

ADDRESS OF GENERAL E. W. PETTUS. 

Mr. President : By the unanimous instructions of the Dele- 
gates from Alabama and by permission of the Delegates from the 
State of Indiana, Alabama nominates William H. English of In- 
diana. 

Mr. President, we have had a glorious day to-day; the Federal 
army and the Confederate army have met on Mason and Dixon's 
Line as one army. And now there is another principle that 
ought not to be forgotten. You have had assurance from New 
York of the union of the Democracy there. We have heard 
from Connecticut, we have heard from New Hampshire; now, 
gentlemen, aided by these fair women from the North, from the 
* from the West and from the South, you have sung together 
here that grand old anthem : 

"Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind, 
Shall friends all true be remember'd not, in the days of Auld Lang Syne." 

Where have we looked for true friends? Where have we had 
true friend.-? Where do we expect true friends? From the 
glorious State of Indiana. 

The Chair: William H.English, of Indiana, is in nomina- 
tion as a candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the United States. 

The Clerk then proceeded with the call of the States. 



132 Official Proceedings of the 

Arkansas— This State seconds the nomination of William H. 
English, of Indiana. 

A Delegate from Maryland: Mr. Chairman, I move you, sir, 
that the nomination be made unanimous. 

Mr. Smalley, of Vermont : It can not be done under the rules. 

The Gentleman from Maryland : I move to suspend the 
rules. [Cries of "No," "no."] 

The motion was withdrawn. 

California — Seconds the nomination of Mr. English. 

Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida — All seconded 
the nomination of Mr. English. 

Georgia — When this State was reached the Chairman of the 
Delegation said : Georgia has no candidate of her own to present, 
and cheerfully joins with her sister States who have named 
William H. English, of Indiana, for Vice-President. 

Illinois — Upon this State being called, the Chairman of the 
Delegation, General McClernand, said: I rise to announce the 
fact that Illinois has announced her partiality for her son, 
William R. Morrison, who has come among us to second the 
nomination of Mr. English, of Indiana. 

Indiana — Upon the call of this State, Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees 
arose and said : 

ADDRESS OF HON. DANIEL W. VOORHEES. 

Mr. President : A single word. Indiana has not been an 
applicant for the second place upon this ticket, but she is deeply 
grateful, she is penetrated by a sense of gratitude for the spon- 
taneous expression of confidence in one of her ablest and most 
distinguished citizens, Mr. English. I would say to the Conven- 
tion that Indiana has never had a place upon the Presidential 
ticket, but if Mr. English is placed upon that ticket, there will 
be placed there a native of that State of commanding capacity 
for affairs both public and private, and a man who was never 
defeated when his name was presented before the people for any 
position, nor will he be defeated now. 

I thank the States for their offer of this high position to him ; 
and on the part of the Delegation from Indiana, I ask to cast the 
vote of that State for Mr. English, her distinguished son. 



National Democratic Convention. 133 

Iowa — When this State was called, Mr. Irish of that State said : 
If you please, Mr. Chairman, I have a nomination to make. 
Upon taking the platform, he spoke as follows : 

ADDRESS OF MR. JOHN P. IRISH. 

Gentlemen of the Convention : Requested by many gentle- 
men sitting in many Delegations, and with the assent of the 
Delegation from Iowa, I am about to make a nomination for the 
office of Vice-President of the United States. The Convention 
will indulge me for a moment while I group as tersely as I may 
the plan of that campaign which, in my judgment, may make 
this nomination almost a necessity to the enlargement of the ma- 
jority which we expect for the nominees of this Convention. 

In 1876, the Democratic party, as now and always, taking 
counsel of its patriotism and its judgment, planned a campaign 
which rescued the country from its thraldom to a Republican 
majority. In planning that campaign they sought leadership 
adapted to the duties of that hour. They sought a leadership 
which found the Democratic party the Lazarus among the parties 
of this Union — a leadership which found it defeated, dismayed 
and overthrown in a majority of the States — a leadership which 
inspired by genius and by judgment touched that almost dead 
political body into life again, so that when the end came it arose 
from discouragement and defeat, clad in all the majesty of vic- 
tory, and clutching the sceptre of power. Now we have another 
campaign to plan. Let us plan this campaign so far wisely 
done, — let us plan it to the end as wisely as that of four years ago. 
I rise then to nominate for the office of Vice-President of the United 
States the Hon. R. H. Bishop, of Ohio. I nominate Mr. Bishop 
as a man who in this great State of Ohio has never been defeated 
when a candidate for office. I nominate him, not saying that 
his presence upon the ticket is an absolute condition precedent 
to its success, but I nominate him as a man who can equip, in 
Mr. Garfield's State, a campaign which will fight the battle with 
even chances of success in October, and perhaps sweep the State 
in November. I nominate Mr. Bishop upon his record as a Demo- 
crat, his record as a business man; I nominate him on the mag- 
nificent record of that brave act in 1877, after the great fraud of 
1876 had discouraged and unnerved the party, when leading an 
army discouraged by the loss of its victory by fraud, he carried 
the State of Ohio by twenty-three thousand majority. I offer 



134 Official Proceedings of the 

then this nomination to the Convention, saying that Iowa sup- 
ports the action of the Convention, 

The Chair : I desire to have a telegram read from a prominent 
candidate for whom' you voted for President. The Clerk will 
read it. 

The Clerk read the following telegram: 

To E. F. Bingham, or John G. Thompson: 
Hancock will make a splendid candidate and can be elected. 

A. G. Thueman. 

Mr. Voorhees, of Indiana : I desire to read a telegram from 
Mr. Hendricks. It reads as follows : 

To Hon. Osnar B. Hord, or William Mack: 

General Hancock is acceptable to Indiana. 

Thomas A. Hendricks. 

Kansas — Seconds the nomination of Mr. English, of Indiana. 

Kentucky — The same. 

Louisiana — The same. 

Maine— The same. 

Maryland — The same. 

Massachusetts — The same. 

Michigan — The Chairman of the Delegation : Michigan wishes 
to be heard. On behalf of the Michigan Delegation, I rise to 
second the nomination of one who is effectively known through 
the North-west by the Democratic party, William H. English. 

Minnesota — Seconds the nomination of Mr. English. 

Mississippi — The same. 

Missouri — The Chairman of the Delegation : I rise for the pur- 
pose of seconding the nomination of Mr. English, of Indiana. 
And the great Empire State of the North-west will give him and 
the ticket a majority of at least seventy- five thousand votes. 

Nebraska — Seconds the nomination of Mr. English. 

Nevada — The same. 

New Hampshire — Mr. John H. George, the Chairman of the 
Delegation from New Hampshire : The Delegation from New 
Hampshire desire me, in seconding the nomination of Mr. Eng- 
lish, to make a suggestion to this Convention. Years ago, sir, 



National Democratic Convention. 135 

when I was a young boy of twenty-one, when the Democrats 
assembled in National Convention under very similar circum- 
stances to those under which we have assembled on this occasion, 
it was held then that the action of that Convention was of 
vital importance to the party and to the country. At that time, 
sir, New York was divided as New York has been divided before 
this Convention. For four years, sir, New York has been split 
almost in two halves. That Convention in 1852 put in nomina- 
tion a distinguished son of the little State which we are here to 
represent, Franklin Pierce. Franklin Pierce had said before the 
country, "No North, no South, no East, no West; but a sacred 
maintenance of the common bond, and true devotion to the com- 
mon Union." And on that motto we went into the contest with 
the united Democracy, and the result was that Pierce and King 
carried every State in the American Union with the exception 
of four. And, sir, with Hancock and English, the question will 
be whether they can beat in friendly rivalry the election of 1852, 
when New Hampshire's son was the Democratic candidate. 

Mr Burnett, of Kentucky : Mr. President, the feeling of this 
Convention is very manifest. The people all over these United 
States are anxiously waiting the completion of the splendid be- 
ginning of that ticket. I move you, sir, that the nomination of 
William H. English be carried by acclamation. 

The Chair : The motion is out of order. 

New Jersey : The Vice-Chairman of the Delegation, Mr. 0. 
Cleveland, said : With profound gratitude to this Convention for 
the harmony that has prevailed here, New Jersey with all the 
enthusiasm of her nature seconds the nomination of William H. 
English, of Indiana. 

New York— Mr. Jacobs, of New York : On behalf of the united 
State of New York I second the nomination of William H. Eng- 
lish, of Indiana, 

North Carolina — Seconds the nomination of Mr. English. 

Ohio— The same. 

Oregon — The same. 

Pennsylvania— This State being called the Chairman of that 
Delegation said : Pennsylvania having been accorded the great 
honor of this Convention has no further nominations to make. 

Rhode Island — Seconds the nomination of Mr. English. 



136 Official Proceedings of the 

South Carolina — The same, 

Tennessee — The same. 

Texas — The same. 

Vermont — The same. 

Virginia — The same. 

West Virginia — The same. 

Wisconsin — Upon the call of this State, Mr. W, F. Vilas, of 
that State, responded, and was called to the platform. 

ADDRESS OF MR. WILLIAM F. VILAS. 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Convention : I am 
deputed by the last State upon this list, but by no means the 
least in the devotion of her Democrats to the principles of the 
party, to express the great delight with which Wisconsin seconds 
the nomination of William H. English, of Indiana. In this 
union of the great soldier statesman of the Democratic party 
with the great statesman whose name is presented now for the 
second place on the ticket, we see the bond of harmony exempli- 
fied and illustrated ; a bond of harmony inaugurated in the State 
of New York in the banishment of all discord, and the suppres- 
sion of all division ; a radiant bow of promise for this happy 
land, stretching from Maine to Texas, from the North to the 
South. And when in the coming election of November the bal- 
lots of this free people, shall at last place in office those men who 
shall restore peace and happiness to this hitherto distracted 
country, then the summer day of our prosperity will rise to its 
zenith, and like a reaper gathering his bountiful harvest, the 
American people will proceed in their career of happiness, free- 
dom and liberty. Then again as at the beginning of the great 
Republic, and at the beginning of the world, the sons of God will 
shout together for joy. 

Mr. President, the order of the Convention is now concluded. 
Am I not in order in taking advantage of this opportunity to 
relieve the Convention from further labor, by moving that the 
nomination of William H. English be made unanimous by ac- 
clamation ? 

The Chairman of the Delegation from Ohio said: The Ohio 
Delegation withdraws the name of R. H. Bishop and seconds the 
nomination of William H. English. 






National Democratic Convention. 137 

The Chair : The name of Mr. Bishop having been withdrawn, 
and there being no other candidate except Mr. English before 
the Convention for Vice-President, it is moved and seconded that 
William H. English, of Indiana, be declared unanimously the 
Democratic candidate for Vice-President of the United States. 

This motion was unanimously carried. 

Hon. Smith M. Weed, of New York : I wish to offer the fol- 
lowing resolution : 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are tendered to 
Hon. John W. Stevenson, of Kentucky, for the able and impartial 
manner in which he has discharged the duties of presiding 
officer of this Convention. 

This resolution was unanimously adopted. 

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky: I move that a committee of 
one from each State be appointed to convey to General Hancock 
and to Mr. English the official notification of their nomination, 
and in its name and in the name of the Democratic party of the 
United States which it represents, to request their acceptance of 
the said nominations. 

General Preston, of Kentucky: la order that the country 
may know the character of the relation between the candidate 
and the party, it has been usual heretofore that that communica- 
tion should be conveyed as indicated by my colleague, by letter, 
so that those relations between the candidates and the party 
shall be known and established in a printed form. I therefore 
move to amend the words in his resolution, by inserting that 
they shall inform them of their nomination by letter and in per- 
son, so as to have the relation in writing. 

Mr. Breckinridge : I accept the amendment. 

The motion as amended, was carried. 

Mr. Dickinson, of Washington, D. C. : On behalf of the Terri- 
tories of the United States, and the District of Columbia, who 
have been accorded rights and privileges in this Convention, 
I have been deputed to thank the Convention for the honor 
accorded them, and at the same time to say that there are no 
Democrats within the limits of this continent who in their fealty 
and devotion to principle, will stand firmer than the Democracy 



138 Official Proceedings of the 

of the Territories and the District of Columbia, I offer the follow- 
ing resolution : 

Resolved, That in the appointment of the National Democratic 
Executive Committee, one member shall be selected from the Dis- 
trict of Columbia and one member to be selected from and who 
shall represent the interests of the several Territories. 

Mr. Jos. Pulitzer, of Missouri : I trust that the gentlemen of 
this Convention will understand that the purport of this resolu- 
tion is to give each of the nine Territories the same representa- 
tion in the National Committee that the great State of New York, 
or the State of Missouri, or the State of Ohio has. It is entirely 
unprecedented; no Territory ever had any representation in the 
National Committee before, and I move that the resolution be 
laid on the table. 

This motion was carried. 

The Clerk then read a letter from the resident 
Democratic Committee of Cincinnati, presenting the 
banners, etc., to the State: 

Cincinnati, Ohio, June 24, 1880. 
Hon. Frederick 0. Prince — My Dear Sir: Will you have 
the President announce (or do so yourself), that the resident 
committee presents to each Delegation the " State guidon " or 
" banneret," with the compliments of the city of Cincinnati. 
Yours, very truly, L. A. Harris, 

Chairman Resident Committee. 

Mr. Weed, of New York : I move that the several Delegations 
of the different States be authorized to send the names of mem- 
bers of their respective State Committees upon the National 
Committee, to the Secretary of the Convention. 

A Delegate : Some of them are not yet chosen. 

The Chair : The various Delegations will send up to the Chair 
the name of the gentlemen from their respective States whom 
they desire to be put upon the National Committee. 

Mr. Weed : My motion was a little broader than that, because 
some of the Delegations may not have made their selection : so I 
made my motion that they might send the names to the Secre- 
tary of this Convention. 



National Democratic Convention. 139 

The Chair: They will be sent. The members of the National 
Committee is to be now appointed. 

Mr. Martin, of Delaware : 1 move that the roll of States be now 
called for the appointment of the National Executive Committee. 

The Chair: A National Executive Committee has now to be 
appointed, and the States will be called, and as each State is 
called the committeeman will be announced. 

The Clerk then called the roll with the following 
result : 

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. 

Alabama Levi W. Lawler Talledega, Ala. 

Arkansas John J. Sumpter Hot Springs, Ark. 

California James T. Farley Jackson, Cal. 

Colorado T. M. Patterson Denver, Col. 

Connecticut William H. Barnum Lime Rock, Conn. 

Delaware Ignatius C. Grubb Wilmington, Del. 

Florida Samuel Pasco Monticello, Fla. 

Ge rgia George T. Barnes Augusta, Ga. 

Illinois William C. Goudy Chicago, Ills. 

Indiana Austin H. Brown Indianapolis, Ind. 

Iowa William M. Ham Dubuque, Iowa. 

Kansas Charles W. Blair Fort Scott, Kansas. 

Kentucky Henry D. McHenry Hartford, Ky. 

Louisiana B. F. Jonas New Oileans, La. 

Maine Edmund Wilson Thomaston, Me. 

Maryland Outerbridge Horsey Burkettsville, M'd. 

Massachusetts Frederick 0. Prince Boston, Mass. 

Michigan Edward Kanter Detroit, Mich. 

Minnesota..... P. H. Kelly St. Paul, Minn. 

Mississippi W. T. Martin..... Natchez, Miss. 

Missouri John G. Prather St. Louis, Mo. 

Nebraska J. Sterling Morton Nebraska City, Neb. 

Nevada Robert P. Keating Gold Hill, Nev. 

New Hampshire Alvah W. Sulloway Franklin, N. H. 

New Jersey Orestes Cleveland Jersey City, N.J. 

New York Abram 8. Hewitt New York City, N. Y. 

North Carolina M. W. Ransom VVeldon, N. C. 

Ohio William W. Armstrong Cleveland, O. 

Oregon P. P. Prim Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. 

Pennsylvania William L. Scott Erie, Penn. 

Rhode Is'and Aimer J. Barnaby Providence, R. I. 

South Carolina F. \Y. Dawson Charleston, S. C. 

Tennessee Thomas O'Connor Nashville, Tenn. 

Texas F. S Siockdale : Cuero, Texas. 

Vermont Bradley B. Smalley..... Burlington, Vt. 



140 Official Proceedings of the 

Virginia Robert A. Coghill New Glasgow, Va. 

West Virginia Alexander Campbell .Bethany, W. Va. 

Wisconsin William F. Vilas Madison, Wis. 

Mr. Weed, of New York : I move that the President of this 
Convention be added to the committee to notify candidates of , 
their nomination. 

This motion was carried. 

Mr. B. B. Smalley, of Vermont : I offer the following resolu- 
tion : 

Resolved, That the Recording Secretary and the Official Steno- 
grapher be requested to prepare the proceedings of this Conven- 
tion to be printed in proper form, and that the National Com- 
mittee cause a suitable number of copies to be distributed among 
the Delegates of this Convention, 

This resolution was adopted. 

Mr. Bates, of Iowa : I desire to offer the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are due and are 
hereby tendered to Hon. T. 0. Walker, of Iowa; Hon. N. M. Bell, 
of Missouri ; Hon. Neal S. Brown, Jr. ; Hon. Thomas S. Pettit, of 
the House of Representatives; Hon. M. A. Harden, of Georgia; 
Hon. James E. Morrison, of New York, and Hon. H. L. Bryan, of 
Delaware, for their efficient services as Reading Secretaries of this 
Convention. 

This resolution was adopted. 

Mr. Irish, of Iowa : I desire to offer the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the place for holding the next National Conven- 
tion be left to the decision of the National Committee, and that 
the basis of representation be the same as in the present Con- 
vention. 

This resolution was adopted. 

The Chair : I am authorized to announce that the members 
of the old as well as of the new National Democratic Committee, 
will assemble this afternoon at 4 o'clock, in the Grand Hotel of 
this city, and all are specially requested to be present, as busi- 
ness of importance will be transacted. 

A Delegate, from North Carolina : Mr. Chairman, I move that 
the thanks of this Convention be extended to the resident Ex- 



National Democratic Convention. 141 

ecutive Committee of Cincinnati, for the liberal and handsome 
manner in which they have provided for the comforts and wants 
of the members of this Convention. 

This motion was carried. 

Mr. Preston, of Kentucky : It is my purpose to move that 
this Convention adjourn sine die. 

This motion was suspended for the present. 

The following was then announced by the Clerk as 
the committee to notify the candidates of their nomi- 
nation : 

COMMITTEE ON NOTIFICATION. 

Alabama A. H. Keller. ! Mississippi W. A. Percy. 

Arkansas H. King White. \ Missouri H. M. Mumford. 

California Thos. L.Thompson. Nebraska F. A.Harrison. 

Colorado B. M. Hughes. : Nevada A. C. Ellis. 

Connecticut W. H. Barnum. New Hampshire T. B. Crowley. 

Delaware G. Saulsbury. New Jersey John P. Stockton. 

Florida P. P. Bishop. ! New York A. Schoonmaker. 

Georgia D. M. Dubose. North Carolina C. M. Stedman. 

Illinois William H.Green. Ohio George Hoadly. 

Indiana D, F; Skinner. Oregon J. W. Windom. 

Iowa T.L.Bowman. Pennsylvania R. M. Spier. 

Kansas R. B. Morris. Rhode Island N. Van Slyck. 

Kentucky C. M.Thomas. South Carolina J. R. Abney. 

Louisiana John Clegg. j Tennessee S. A. Champion. 

Maine Win. G. Davis. Texas Joseph E. Dwyer. 

Maryland Barnes Compton. Vermont M. 0. Rul'ng. 

Massachusetts J. C. Abbott. ! Virginia John W. Daniel. 

Michigan 0. M. Barnes. West Virginia R. McEldowney. 

Minnesota II. W. Lamberton. 1 Wisconsin Anson Rodgers. 

The Secretary: This committee will meet at the Grand Hotel, 
in the rooms of the Iowa Delegation at 4:30 P. M. this afternoon. 

Mr. Preston, of Kentucky : I now purpose moving the ad- 
journment of the great National Democratic Convention. I find 
however that there has been an omission in returning thanks to 
the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the executive officers, for their faithful 
attendance to our interests and wants, and in obedience to the 
orders of the Convention. I therefore move that the thanks of 
the Convention be returned to these officers for the efficient man- 
ner in which their duties have been performed. 



142 Official Proceedings, &c. 

The motion was carried. 

Mr. Preston : I now move you that the Convention adjourn 
sine die. 

The Chair: Before putting thai motion, allow me to return 
you my thanks for the kind resolution which you passed in my 
favor. I congratulate you upon the glorious work which the last 
three days of your proceedings have given to the country. 

You have nominated a ticket, in my opinion, destined to sweep 
this country. I am quite sure that when they take their seats, 
to administer the duties of their respective offices, there is not a 
man in the broad land who will not with us rejoice in the nomi- 
nation. Thanking you, gentlemen, for your kindness, I now pro- 
nounce this body, the National Democratic Convention of 1880, 
adjourned sine die. 

Three cheers were then proposed and given for the 
Chairman, and at precisely 3 o'clock P. M. the Con- 
vention adjourned sine die. 









APPENDIX 



ORGANIZATION 



National Democratic Committee. 



Cestcixxati, O., Juste 24, 1880. 

The National Democratic Committee of 1880 met 
at the Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio, Thursday, June 
24, 1880, at 4:30 P. M., Hon. William H. Barnum, 
of Connecticut, in the Chair. 

On motion, the Chairman and Secretary of the 
Committee of 1876-80 were requested to retain their 
respective offices for the purpose of temporary organ- 
ization. 

On motion of Mr. McHenry, of Kentucky, the Com- 
mittee then adjourned to meet for permanent organiza- 
tion, on Tuesday, July 13, 1880, at 12 o'clock noon of 
that day, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in the city of 
Xew York. 



MEETING OF THE 

National Democratic Convention 



MORNING SESSION 



New Yobk, July 13, 1880. 

Pursuant to adjournment the Committee met at the 
Fifth Avenue Hotel, in the city of New York, at 12 
o'clock M., on Tuesday, July 13, 1880, Hon. William 
H. Barnum in the Chair. 

The roll was called by the Secretary, Hon. F. O. 
Prince. 

Members of the committee were present from all the 
States, either personally or by proxy, except from 
Oregon. 

An error in announcing the member of the com- 
mittee from Nevada was corrected; the name of the 
member from that State being Robert P. Keating, who 
was represented by proxy. 

The minutes of the last meeting were read and ap- 
proved. 

The first business in order being the completion of 
the permanent organization of the committee, on mo- 



Appendix. 145 

tion of Mr. Alexander Campbell, of West Virginia, 
Hon. William H. Barnum, of Connecticut, was re- 
elected unanimously, by a rising vote, to the office of 
Chairman of the Committee. 

In accepting the position, Mr. Barnum said: 

Gentlemen : It has been my honest wish and desire that this 
distinguished honor should be conferred upon some one other 
than myself. But, under the circumstances, I must yield to your 
unanimous wish, and accept the chairmanship of the committee. 

Fully appreciating its cares and its great responsibilities, I 
thank you, each and all of you, for this mark of your confidence. 

On motion of Mr. Brown, of Indiana, Hon. F. O. 
Prince, of Massachusetts, was also re-elected unani- 
mously to the office of Secretary to the Committee by 
a rising vote. In accepting the position Mr. Prince 
addressed the committee as follows: 

Gentlemen : I also thank this committee for the honor which 
they have conferred upon me, and the unanimity with which 
it has been conferred. As you all know, I have served many 
years as secretary of this committee ; and I feel that to be again 
placed there is an indorsement of my conduct in the past. This 
makes the honor more keenly appreciated by me. All I can say 
is, that I shall do everything in my power to serve you, and to 
gain, what I think we shall gain, a victory in this approaching 
contest. 

Mr. Goudy, of Illinois: It having been suggested by some 
gentlemen that it may be desirable to have an assistant secre- 
tary. I move that Hon Isaac E. Eaton, of Kansas, be appointed 
Assistant Secretary. 

Mr Hewitt, of New York : I move to lay the motion upon 
the table until after the appointment of the Executive Com- 
mittee, unless the gentleman consents to withdraw it. 

Mr. Hewitt withdrew his motion temporarily for the 
purpose of allowing the matter to be discussed. After 
discussion, Mr. Hewitt made the following motion as a 
substitute for his previous motion: 
10 



146 Appendix. 

That the matter of the appointment of an assistant secretary- 
be referred to the Executive Committee, when appointed, for 
their action. 

This motion was adopted. 

The Chair then notified the committee that he had 
received from the Committee on Notification an invi- 
tation to the National Committee to join them in their 
visit to Governor's Island; this invitation being sup- 
plemented by a telegraphic invitation from General 
Hancock. 

On motion the invitation was accepted. 

Mr. Campbell, of West Virginia, offered the follow- 
ing resolution : 

Resolved, That before they leave the city, this committee as a 
committee, pay their respects to Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, who was 
elected President of the United States in 1876. 

This resolution was unanimously adopted. 

The Secretary then read a communication from the 
Congressional Committee, asking a conference with 
the National Committee. 

Mr. Hewitt moved that a committee of two be ap- 
pointed to notify the Congressional Committee that 
the National Committee would receive their repre- 
sentatives at once. 

This motion was adopted. 

The Chair named Messrs. Hewitt and Cleveland as 
such committee. This committee at once proceeded 
to convey the notification to the Congressional Com- 
mittee. 

Mr. Smalley, of Vermont, moved that a committee 
consisting of the Chairman and Secretary of the 






Appendix. 147 

Xational Committee, and eleven members thereof, to 
be appointed by the Chairman, should constitute an 
Executive Committee. 

Mr. Goudy, of Illinois, moved as an amendment 
that five members of such committee constitute a 
quorum thereof. 

The amendment having been accepted, the motion 
as amended was adopted. 

Mr. Brown, of Indiana, moved that when the Com- 
mittee adjourned, it adjourn to meet at 8 o'clock P. M. 
at this place. 

This motion was adopted. 

Mr. Prather, of Missouri, suggests that it might be 
well to have a sub-committee appointed at Indian- 
apolis, Indiana; if such a measure should be thought 
proper, the Executive Committee might appoint that 
sub- committee. 

Mr. Brown, of Indiana, moved that the subject be 
referred to the Executive Committee for their action. 

This motion was adopted. 

Messrs. Hewitt and Cleveland then presented the 
representatives of the Congressional Committee to the 
Xational Committee. 

Hon. Jos. E. McDonald addressed the Committee 
in regard to being placed in communication with the 
Executive Committee when appointed. 

Mr. Hewitl moved that the communication from the 
Congressional Committee made by its Chairman, be re- 
ferred to the Executive Committee with power to act. 

This motion was adopted. 



148 Appendix. 

"At the close of Mr. McDonald's address the com- 
mittee adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock P. M. of this day. 

The National Committee then joined the Committee 
on Notification, and accompanied that committee to 
Governor's Island, where they were received by Gen. 
Hancock, and took part in the formal notification con- 
veyed to Mr. English and himself of their nomination 
as candidates to the Presidency and Vice-Presidency 
of the United States. 



EVENING SESSION 



Pursuant to adjournment the committee met at 8 
o'clock, Tuesday evening, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, 
Mr. Barnum in the Chair. 

A quorum of the committee was present. 

Hon. William H. English, of Indiana, the candidate 
for Vice-President, gave the committee some important 
and valuable information in regard to the State of In- 
diana. This was followed by an informal conference 
and interchange of views in regard to the various 
States, and was participated in by Messrs. Hewitt, of 
]STew York; Scott, of Pennsylvania; Barnaby, of Rhode 
Island; Goudy, of Illinois; McHenry, of Kentucky; 



Appendix. 149 

Armstrong, of Ohio; Ransom, of Worth Carolina, and 
others. 

Mr. Prince, of Massachusetts, moved that when the 
committee adjourned it adjourn to 10 o'clock, Wed- 
nesday, 14th instant, at the same place. 

This motion was^adopted. 

Mr. Campbell, of West Virginia, moved that *the 
members of the National Committee of 1876-80 be in- 
vited to accompany the committee of 1880-81 in its 
call upon Governor Tilden. 

This motion was adopted. It was understood to be 
the sense of the committee that the hour for that call 
should be 11 o'clock A. M., on Wednesday, the 14th 
instant. 

On motion of Mr. Brown, the committee then ad- 
journed to meet at 10 o'clock A. M., July 14, 1880. 



MORNING SESSION, 



July 14, 1880. 

Pursuant to adjournment the committee met at the 
Fifth Avenue Hotel, on Wednesday, July 14, 1889, at 
10 o'clock, the Chairman, Mr. Barnum, in the Chair. 

A quorum of the committee was present. 



150 



Appendix. 



On motion of Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania, the num- 
ber of the Executive Committee was increased to six- 
teen, exclusive of the Chairman and Secretary, making 
eighteen in all. 

On motion of Mr. Campbell, it was determined that 
five members of this Executive Committee should con- 
stitute a quorum when a meeting of such committee 
was called by the Chair. 

The Secretary then announced the names of the 
members of the Executive Committee, as appointed by 
the Chair. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



Hon. Wm. II. Barnum Conn. 

Hon. F. 0. Prince Mass. 

Hon. Geo. T. Barnes Ga. 

Hon. Wm. C Goudy 111. 

Hon. Austin H. Brown Ind. 

Hon. M. M. Ham la. 

Hon. B. F. Jonas La. 

Hon. Henry D. McHenry Ky. 

Hon. Outerbkidge Horsey Md. 



Hon. P. H. Kelly Minn. 

Hon. Alvait W. Sulloway N. H. 

Hon. Orestes Cleveland N. J. 

Hon. Abram S. Hewitt N. Y. 

Hon. M. W. -Ransom N. C. 

Hon. Wm. W. Armstrong 0. 

Hon. Wm. L. Scott Penn. 

Hon. Thos. 0'Conner Tenn. 

Hon. B. B. Smalley Vt. 



The Secretary then read a communication from Geo. 
C. Wedderburn, renewing his offer to the committee, 
tendering the use of the Gazette during the approach- 
ing campaign. 

On motion of Mr. Hewitt, of New York, the com- 
munication was referred to the Executive Committee. 

Mr. Goudy moved that each member of the Execu- 
tive Committee be authorized to appoint his own 
proxy, in case of his inability to attend any of the 
meetings of that committee. 

Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania, moved as an amend- 
ment, that the recognition of the proxy be left in the 
hands of the Executive Committee itself. 



Appendix. lol 

Mr. Kelly, of Minnesota, moved that the whole mat- 
ter be referred to the Executive Committee with power 
to act. 

This motion was adopted. 

Mr. G-oudy, of Illinois, moved that Mr. Isaac E. 
Eaton, of Kansas, be appointed Assistant Secretary to 
the Xational Committee. 

On motion of Mr. Hewitt, of Xew York, this mo- 
tion was laid upon the table. 

Mr. Grubb, of Delaware, moved that when the com- 
mittee adjourned, it adjourn subject to the call of the 
Chair. 

This motion was adopted. 

On motion of Mr. McHenry, of Kentucky, the com- 
mittee then adjourned, subject to the call of the Chair. 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ON NOTIFICATION. 

The committee appointed by the Xational Demo- 
cratic Convention at Cincinnati to inform General 
Hancock and Mr. English of their nomination for the 
offices of President and Vice-President, met at the 
Xew York Hotel, in the city of New York at 9 o'clock 
A. M. July 13, 1880, the Chairman, Hon. John P. 
Stockton, of Trenton, Xew Jersey, in the Chair, and 
Hon. Xicholas M. Bell, of St. Louis, Secretary. 

A resolution was adopted that the committee pro- 
ceed to Governor's Island and present the letters to the 
candidates. 

Pursuant to this resolution the Committee on noti- 
fication, attended by the members of the Xational 



152 Appendix. 

Democratic Committee, proceeded to Governor's Is- 
land, where they were received by General Hancock 
in person. 

SenatQr Stockton then addressed General Hancock 
as follows: 

ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN P. STOCKTON. 

General Winfield Scott Hancock : I have the honor to 
introduce to you Governor Stevenson, Chairman of the National 
Democratic Convention, recently assembled at Cincinnati. I 
have also the honor of presenting to you the committee ap- 
pointed by that body to wait upon you and notify you of your 
unanimous nomination for the highest office in the government 
of the people. It is a source of great satisfaction to the com- 
mittee in making their announcement to you to say that your 
nomination was not secured by the solicitations of personal or 
political friends, but was the spontaneous action of that Conven- 
tion, actuated by a patriotic sense of duty. 

One of the ablest and wisest bodies of your countrymen ever 
assembled has given you this nomination with perfect unanimity, 
and, General, since that Convention has adjourned, we of that 
Convention have been to our homes, we have seen our constitu- 
ents, we have seen the Democratic masses and the conservative 
people of this country, and with one accord they ratify the action 
of 'that Convention. We are bound to believe, as we do, that your 
election will be an accomplished fact; we can not doubt it; and 
we believe that when the election is over the great principles of 
American liberty will still be the inheritance of this people. And 
now, in the name of the National Democratic party, by virtue of 
the power entrusted to this committee by the Convention, as its 
Chairman, I have the honor to hand to the Secretary a communi- 
cation in writing informing you officially of your nomination. 

the official letter. 

As General Stockton concluded speaking he handed 
the letter of notification to Mr. Bell, the Secretaiy of 
the committee, who read as follows : 



Appendix. 153 

Xew York, July 13, 1880. 

Sir : The National Convention of the Democratic party, which 
assembled at Cincinnati on the 22d of last month, unanimously 
nominated you as their candidate for the office of President of 
the United States. We have been directed to inform you of your 
nomination for this exalted trust, and to ask its acceptance. 

In accordance with the uniform custom of the Democratic 
party, the Convention have announced their views upon the 
important issues which are before the country in a series of reso- 
lutions, to which we invite your attention. These resolutions 
embody the general principles upon which the Democratic party 
demand that the government shall be conducted, and they also 
emphatically condemn the maladministration of the government 
by the party in power; its crimes against the constitution, and 
especially against the right of the people to choose and install 
their President, which have wrought so much injury and dis- 
honor to our country. That which chiefly inspired your nomi- 
nation was the fact that you had conspicuously recognized and 
exemplified the yearning of the American people for reconcilia- 
tion and brotherhood under the shield of the constitution, with 
all its jealous care and guarantees for the rights of persons and of 
States. 

Your nomination was not made alone because in the midst of 
arms you illustrated the highest qualities of the soldier, but be- 
cause when the war had ended and when, in recognition of your 
courage and fidelity, you were placed in command of a part of 
the Union undergoing the process of restoration, and while you 
were thus clothed with absolute power you used it not to subvert 
but to sustain the civil laws and the rights they were established 
to protect. 

Your fidelity to those principles, manifested in the important 
trusts heretofore confided to your care, gives proof that they will 
control your administration of the national government, and 
assures the country that one indissoluble union of indestructible 
States, and the constitution, with its wise distributions of power 
and regard for the boundaries of States and federal authority, 
will not suffer in your hands: that you will maintain the subor- 
dination of the military to the civil power, and will accomplish 
the purification of the public service, and especially that the gov- 
ernment which we love will be free from the reproach or stain of 
sectional agitation or malice in any shape or form. Rejoicing 
in common with the masses of the American people upon this 



154 



Appendix. 



bright promise for the future of our country, we wish also to ex- 
press to you personally the assurance of the general esteem and 
confidence which summoned you to this high duty, and will aid 
you in its performance. Your fellow-citizens, 

JOHN W. STEVENSON, 
President of the Convention- 

W., A. Percy, Mississippi. 

Morrison Mumford, Missouri. 

F. A. Harman (proxy), Nebraska. 

A. C. Ellis, Nevada. 

T. B. Crowley, New Hampshire. 

J. P. Stockton, New Jersey. 

A. Schoon maker, New York. 

Chas. M. Stedman, North Carolina. 

George Hoadly, Ohio. 

J. W. Windom, Oregon. 

R. M. Spier, Pennsylvania. 

N. Van Slyck, Rhode Island. 

J. R. Abney, South Carolina. 

S. A. Champion, Tennessee. 

JosEPn E. Dwyer, Texas. 

M. C. Huling, Vermont. 

John W. Daniel, Virginia. 

R. McEldowney, West Virginia. 

Anson Rodgers, Wisconsin. 

Committee. 



Nicholas M. Bell, Secretary. 

A. H. Keller, Alabama. 

H King White, Arkansas. 

Thos. L. Thompson, California. 

W. A. H. Loveland, Colorado. 

W. H. Barnum, Connecticut. 

Gov. Saulsbury, Delaware. 

P. P. Brsnop, Florida. 

G. M. Dubose, Georgia. 

S. S. Marshal (proxy), Illinois. 

O. B. Hord (proxy), Indiana. 

T. L. Bowman, Iowa. 

R. B. Morris, Kansas. 

C. M. Thomas, Kentucky. 

Jno. McExery (proxy), Louisiana. 

Wm. G. Davis, Maine. 

Barnes Compton, Maryland. 

J. G. Abbott, Massachusetts. 

Orlando M. Barnes, Michigan. 

H. W. Lamberton, Minnesota. 

To General Winfield Scott Hancock. 



GENERAL HANCOCK S REPLY. 

At the conclusion of the reading, General Hancock 
briefly responded as follows: 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Committee : I appre- 
ciate the honor conferred upon me by the National Democratic 
Convention lately assembled in Cincinnati, and I thank you for 
your courtesy in making known that honor to me. As soon as 
time permits me to give the subject that careful attention be- 
longing to it, I shall prepare and will send you a reply of a formal 
nature, accepting the nomination by the Democratic party to the 
office of President of the United States. 

Hon. William H. English, being present by invita- 
tion of General Hancock, Mr. Stockton addressed him 
as follows: 



Appendix. 155 

Hon. William H, English : The National Democratic Con- 
vention lately assembled at Cincinnati nominated you as their 
candidate for Vice-President. That result was reached with 
unanimity unparalleled. We were appointed a committee to 
wait upon you at such time and place as would be most agreeable 
to you and inform you of this in person. I have now the honor 
to present to you on behalf of the committee of the National 
Democratic party the official announcement of your nomination, 
which will be read to you by our Secretary. 

Mr. Bell then read the following letter: 

New York, July 13, 1880. 

Hon. William H. English— Dear Sir: By direction of the 
National Democratic Convention, which assembled at Cincin- 
nati on June 22d last, it becomes our pleasing duty to inform 
you that you were unanimously nominated by that body for the 
office of Vice-President of the United States. 

Your large experience in the affairs of government, your able 
discharge of the many trusts committed to your hands, your 
steadfast devotion to Democratic principles, and the uprightness 
of your private character, gave assurance to the Democracy that 
you were worthy and well qualified to perform the duties of the 
high position, and commended you to them for the nomination 
which they conferred. 

While your personal qualities and your public services well 
merited this honor, the action of the Convention was no doubt 
designed not only to indicate their appreciation of yourself, but 
as well to testify their profound respect for the Democracy of 
Indiana, your native State, with whose many struggles you have 
been so long identified, and in whose glorious achievements you 
have shared. 

The Convention set forth the views upon the leading political 
issues which are now before the people in a series of resolutions, 
a copy of which we have the honor to present to you, and to 
which your attention is respectfully requested. 

It is our earnest hope that these views may meet with your 
approval, and that you will accept the nomination which is now 
tendered. Your fellow-citizens, 

JOHN W. STEVENSON, 
President of the Convention. 

Nicholas M. Bell, Secretary. 



156 Appendix. 

This letter was also signed, as in the case of the 
letter to General Hancock, by all the members of the 
Committee on Notification. 

Mr. English was then presented with an engrossed 
copy of the platform of the Democratic Convention, 
and a copy of the letter. 

Mr. English then responded as follows: 

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Committee : As a 
practical business man not much accustomed to indirection of 
action or circumlocution of speech, I will say plainly and in a 
few words that I accept the high trust which you have tendered 
me with feelings of profound gratitude, and that I will at an 
early day, formally and in writing, make the acceptance which 
I am informed is usual upon such occasions. In doing this, I 
fully realize the great responsibility of the situation, the care, 
the turmoil, the anxiety, the misrepresentation, the abuse which 
are certain to follow. And I understand thoroughly that all the 
resources and powers of our political foes from all parts of the 
land will be concentrated against us in Indiana, my native State, 
in the first great battle to be fought, and probably the most im- 
portant of all that are to be fought, but there are great occasions 
when the discharge of high patriotic duties is to be considered 
above all personal considerations. I shall not disregard the 
unanimous voice of the representatives of the majority of the 
American people, which you speak here to-day. 

I am profoundly grateful for the high honor which has been 
conferred upon me, and I have an abiding faith that with the 
favor of God and of the people we shall succeed in this contest. 

After a short time spent in congratulations the 
committee withdrew. 

VISIT OF THE COMMITTEES TO HON. SAMUEL J. TILDEN. 

On "Wednesday, Jnly 14, 1880, the Notification 
Committee, accompanied by the National Democratic 
Committees of 1876-80 and 1880-84, and the Con- 
gressional Committee, with Governor Stevenson, the 



Appendix. 157 

Chairman of the National Convention, proceeded to 
the residence of Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, in Gramercy 
Park, where they were received by Governor Tilden. 

The Chairman of the Convention. Mr. Stevenson, 
then addressed Mr. Tilden as follows: 

Mr. Tilden : The American Democracy upon the 22d of June 
last met in Convention at Cincinnati and nominated Winfield 
Scott Hancock, of Pennsylvania, for President, and William H. 
English, of Indiana, for Vice-President of the United States. 
The committee charged with the duty of informing those emi- 
nent statesmen of the high trust which had been committed to 
them, performed that duty yesterday. The gentlemen who com- 
posed that committee now surround you. Having notified the 
nominees, whom the people intend to elect in the ides of Novem- 
ber next President and Vice-President of the United States, 
their duty would not have been half performed without waiting 
in person on, and tendering the homage of the American people 
to him who, in 1876, was by a large majorit} r elected President of 
the United States. The fact that you chose, in order to avoid 
civil strife and bloodshed, by a noble self-denial, to forego the 
execution of the duties of the Chief Magistracy of the American 
Republic thus delegated to you, and of which you were deprived 
by a conspiracy founded in force and fraud, and by a crime 
against free, representative self-government, does not in any man- 
ner detract from the high honor and confidence of the American 
people in your wisdom, virtue and capacity to exercise the high 
trusts and duties of that responsible position. In refusing to 
allow your name to go before the Convention as a candidate for 
the Presidency in the approaching election, you have taken from 
the people the privilege of electing you a second time to that 
office, and of vindicating in your person the crime committed 
upon the constitution by a conspiracy founded on fraud and force, 
in refusing to give effect to the voice of 1 the people which had 
called you in 1876 to execute the high trust of President of the 
United States. 

These acts of self-denying patriotism on your part have height- 
ened the confidence and regard entertained toward you by the 
lovers of American free government throughout the Union. It 
becomes my pleasing duty to present to you in person the resolu- 
tion of the late National Democratic Convention, expressive of 



158 Appendix. 

its high estimate of your virtue, wisdom, and eminent ability; 
and I am quite sure that I fully represent the individual feeling 
of every member of this committee, and of the National Demo- 
cratic Convention whose representatives they are, when I assure 
you that their earnest prayers ascend to the Almighty Giver of 
all good, for the preservation of your valuable life for very many 
years, and especially that you may be spared to witness in No- 
vember next the overwhelming vote of a large majority of the 
American people which shall rebuke the base fraud committed for 
the first time in our history, in the refusal to permit the President 
chosen by them to exercise the duties of that exalted position. 

I give expression to the voice of the committee, and not less 
to that of the Democracy of the entire Union, in assuring you of 
their faith that had you been inaugurated to the exalted position 
to which you were elected in 1876, the administration would 
have been restored to the high plane on which it was maintained 
by Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson. Permit me therefore to read 
to you the ninth resolution in the platform adopted by the Con- 
vention at Cincinnati : 

9. The resolution of Samuel J. Tilden not again to be a candi- 
date for the exalted place to which he was elected by a majority of 
his countrymen, and from which he was excluded by the leaders 
of the Republican party, is received by the Democracy of the 
United States with deep sensibility; and they declare their con- 
fidence in his wisdom, patriotism, and integrity unshaken by the 
assaults of the common enemy, and they further assure him that 
he is followed into the retirement he has chosen for himself by 
the sympathy and respect of his fellow-countrymen who regard 
him as one who, by elevating the standard of public morality, 
and adorning and purifying the public service, merits the lasting 
gratitude of his country and his party. 

Governor Stevenson then handed the document to 
Governor Tilden and concluded his remarks by saying: 

That resolution embodies the true sentiment toward you of 
every Democrat in the land. Take it as a memorial of our affec- 
tionate regard for you personally, and of our confidence in your 
wisdom, statesmanship and unsullied purity. 

In conclusion, I beg you, Mr. Tilden, to accept the best wishes 
of the committee, and myself, personally, for your future happi- 
ness and prosperity. 



Appendix. 159 

Governor Tilclen responded as follows: 

Mr. Stevenson, President of the National Democratic 
Convention : I thank you for the kind terms in which } t ou have 
expressed the communication you make to me. A solution which 
enables the Democratic party of the United States to vindicate 
effectually the right of the people to choose their Chief Magis- 
trate, — a right violated in 1876, — and at the same time relieves 
me from the burdens of a canvass and four years of administra- 
tion, is most agreeable to me. My sincere good wishes and cordial 
co-operation as a private citizen attend the illustrious soldier 
whom the Democracy have designated as their standard bearer 
in the Presidential canvass. I congratulate you on the favorable 
prospects with which that canvass has been commenced and the 
promise it affords of complete and final success. 

The committees withdrew, after an informal ex- 
change of courtesies with their distinguished host. 

THANKS. 

Before the final adjournment of the Committee on 
Xotification, a resolution of thanks was passed to 
Hon. John P. Stockton, the Chairman of the Com- 
mittee, for the courteous and able manner in which he 
had discharged his duties: to Hon. John W. Steven- 
son, the Permanent Chairman of the Convention, for 
the dignified and feeling manner in which he had pre- 
sented the members of the committee, and expressed 
their sentiments, to Mr. Tilden: and to Hon. X. M. 
Bell, the Secretary of ttie Committee, for the efficient 
manner in which he had performed his duties: and to 
J. H. Cranston, proprietor of the Xew York Hotel, for 
his kindness, courtesy, and attention to the members 
of the committee during their stay at that hotel. 

The committee then adjourned sine die. 

On the following pages will be found the letters 
of acceptance of General Winfield Scott Hancock and 
Hon. William II. English. 



Gen. Hancocks Letter of Acceptance, 



Governor's Island, 
New York City, July 29, 1880. 

Gentlemen : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of July 13, 1880, apprising me formally of my nomi- 
nation to the office of President of the United States, by the 
"National Democratic Convention " lately assembled in Cincin- 
nati. I accept the nomination with grateful appreciation of the 
confidence reposed in me. 

The principles enunciated b}^ the Convention are those I have 
cherished in the past, and shall endeavor to maintain in the 
future. 

The xni, xiv, and xv amendments to the Constitution of the 
United States, embodying the results of the war for the Union, 
are inviolable. If called to the Presidency, I should deem it my 
duty to resist with all my power any attempt to impair or evade 
the full force and effect of the constitution, which in every arti- 
cle, section, and amendment, is the supreme law of the land. 
The constitution forms the basis of the government of the United 
St.itcs. The powers granted by it to the legislative, executive, 
and judicial departments, define and limit the authority of the 
general government; powers not delegated to the United States 
by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, belong to 
the States respectively, or to the people. The General and State 
governments, each acting in its own sphere without trenching 
upon the lawful jurisdiction of the other, constitute the Union. 
This Union, comprising a General government with general pow- 
ers, and State governments with State powers for purposes local 
to the States, is a polity, the foundations of which were laid in 
the profoundest wisdom. 

This is the Union our fathers made, and which has been so 
respected abroad and so beneficent at home. Tried by blood and 



162 Appendix. 

fire, it stands to-day a model form of free, popular government; a 
political system which, rightly administered, has been, and will 
continue to be the admiration of the world. May we not say 
nearly in the words of Washington: The unity of government 
which constitutes us one people is justly dear to us; it is the 
main pillar in the edifice of our real independence, the support 
of our peace, safety, and prosperity, and of that liberty we so 
highly prize, and intend at every hazard to preserve. 

But no form of government however carefully devised, no 
principles however sound, will protect the rights of the people, 
unless its administration is faithful and efficient. It is a vital 
principle in our system that neither fraud nor force must be 
allowed to subvert the rights of the people. When fraud, vio- 
lence or incompetence controls, the noblest constitutions and 
wisest laws are useless. The bayonet is not a fit instrument for 
collecting the votes of freemen. It is only by a full vote, free 
ballot, and fair count, that the people can rule in fact, as required 
by the theory of our government. Take this foundation away 
and the whole structure falls. 

Public office is a trust, not a bounty bestowed upon the holder. 
No incompetent or dishonest persons should ever be entrusted 
with it, or if appointed, they should be promptly ejected. The 
basis of a substantial, practical civil service reform, must first 
be established by the people in filling the elective offices ; if they 
fix a high standard of qualifications for office, and sternly reject 
the corrupt and incompetent, the result will be decisive in gov- 
erning the action of the servants whom they entrust with ap- 
pointing power. 

The war for the Union was successfully closed more than fifteen 
years ago. All classes of our people must share alike in the 
blessings of the Union, and are equally concerned in its per- 
petuity, and in the proper administration of public affairs. We 
are in a state of profound peace. Henceforth let it be our pur- 
pose to cultivate sentiments of friendship, and not of animosity, 
among our fellow-citizens. Our material interests, varied and 
progressive, demand our constant and united efforts. A sedulous 
and scrupulous care of the public credit, together with a wise 
and economical management of our governmental expenditures 
should be maintained in order that our labor may be lightly 
burdened, and that all persons may be protected in their rights 
to the fruits of their own industry. The time has come to enjoy 
the substantial benefits of reconciliation. As one people we have 



Appendix. 163 

common interests. Let us encourage the harmony and generous 
rivalry among our own industries which will revive our languish- 
ing merchant marine, extend our commerce with foreign nations, 
assist our merchants, manufacturers and producers, to develop 
our vast natural resources, and increase the prosperity and hap- 
piness of our people. 

If elected, I shall, with the divine favor, labor with what 
ability I possess to discharge my duties with fidelity, according 
to my convictions, and shall take care to protect and defend the 
Union, and to see that the laws be faithfully and equally executed 
in all parts of the country alike. I will assume the responsibility, 
fully sensible of the fact that to administer rightly the functions 
of government is to discharge the most sacred duty that can 
devolve upon an American citizen. 

I am ; very respectfully yours, 

WINFIELD S. HANCOCK. 

To the Hon. John W. Stevenson, President of the Convention, Hon, 
John P. Stockton, Chairman, and others of the Committee of the 
National Democratic Convention. 



Hon. Wm. H. English's Letter of Acceptance. 



Indianapolis, Ind., July 30, 1880. 

Gentlemen : I have now the honor to reply to your letter of 
the 13th instant, informing me that I was unanimously nomi- 
nated for the office of Vice-President of the United States by the 
late National Democratic Convention which assembled at Cin- 
cinnati. As foreshadowed in the verbal remarks made by me 
at the time of the delivery of your letter, I have now to say that 
I accept the high trust with a realizing sense of its responsibility, 
and am profoundly grateful for the honor conferred. I accept the 
nomination upon the platform of principles adopted by the Con- 
vention, which I cordially approve, and I accept it as much 
because of my faith in the wisdom and patriotism of the great 
statesman and soldier nominated on the same ticket for President 
of the United States. His eminent services to his country; his 
fidelity to the constitution, the Union, and the laws; his clear 
perception of the correct principles of government as taught 
by Jefferson; his scrupulous care to keep the military in strict 
subordination to the civil authorities, his high regard for civil 
liberty, personal rights and rights of property ; his acknowledged 
ability in civil as well as military affairs, and his pure and blame- 
less life — all point to him as a man worthy of the confidence of 
the people. Not only a brave soldier, a great commander, a wise 
statesman and a pure patriot, but a prudent, painstaking, practi- 
cal man of unquestioned honesty ; trusted often with important 
public duties, faithful to every trust, and in the full meridian of 
ripe and vigorous manhood, he is, in my judgment, eminently 
fitted for the highest office on earth — the Presidency of the United 
States. Not only is he the right man for the place, but the time 
has come when the best interests of the country require that the 
party which has monopolized the Executive department of the 
general government for the last twenty years should be retired. 



166 Appendix. 

The continuation of that party in power four years longer would 
not be beneficial to the public or in accordance with the spirit 
of our Republican institutions. Laws of entail have not been 
favored in our system of government. The perpetuation of prop- 
erty or place in one family or set of men has never been encour- 
aged in this country, and the great and good men who formed 
our Republican government and its traditions wisely limited the 
tenure of office, and in many ways showed their disapproval of 
long leases of power. Twenty years of continuous power is long 
enough, and has already led to irregularities and corruption 
which are not likely to be properly exposed under the same party 
that perpetuated them : besides, it should not be forgotten that 
the four last years of power held by that party were procured by 
disreputable means and held in defiance of the wishes of a ma- 
jority of the people. It was a grievous wrong to every voter and 
to our system of self-government which should never be forgotten 
nor forgiven. Many of the men now in office were put there 
because of corrupt partisan services in thus defeating the fairly 
and legally expressed will of the majority, and the hypocrisy of 
the professions of that party in favor of civil service reform was 
shown by placing such men in office and turning the whole brood 
of federal office-holders loose to influence the elections. The 
money of the people, taken out of the public treasury by these 
men for services often poorly performed, or not performed at all, 
is being used in vast sums, with the knowledge and presumed 
sanction of the administration to control the elections, and even 
the members of the cabinet are strolling about the country 
making partisan speeches, instead of being in their departments 
at Washington discharging the public duties for which they are 
paid by the people. But with all their cleverness and ability a 
discriminating public will no doubt read between the lines of 
their speeches that their paramount hope and aim is to keep 
themselves or their satellites four years longer in office. Per- 
petuating the power of chronic federal office-holders four years 
longer will not benefit the millions of men and women who hold 
no office ; but earning their daily bread by honest industry, is 
what the same discerning public will no doubt fully understand, 
as they will also that it is because of their own industry and 
economy, and God's bountiful harvests, that the country is com- 
paratively prosperous, and not because of anything done by these 
federal office-holders. The country is comparatively prosperous, 
not because of them but in spite of them. This contest is in fact 



Appendix. 167 

between the people endeavoring to regain the political power 
which rightfully belongs to them, and to restore the pure, simple, 
economical, constitutional government of our fathers on the one 
side, and a hundred thousand federal office-holders and their 
backers, pampered with place and power, and determined to 
retain them at all hazards, on the other. Hence the constant 
assumption of new and dangerous powers by the general govern- 
ment under the rule of the Republican party, the effort to build 
up what they call a strong government, the interference with 
home rule and with the administration of justice in the courts of 
the several States, the interference with the elections through 
the medium of paid partisan federal office-holders interested in 
keeping their party in power, and caring more for that than fair- 
ness in the elections. In fact, the constant encroachments which 
have been made by that party upon the clearly reserved rights 
of the people and the States will, if not checked, subvert the 
liberties of the people and the government of limited powers 
created by the fathers, and end in a great consolidated central 
government — strong, indeed, for evil — and the overthrow of 
republican institutions. The wise men who formed our consti- 
tution knew the evils of a strong government and the long 
continuance of political power in the, same hands. They knew 
there was a tendency in this direction in all governments and 
consequent danger to republican institutions from that cause, 
and took pains to guard against it. The machinery of a strong 
centralized general government can be used to perpetuate the 
same set of men in power from term to term until it ceases to 
be a republic, or is such only in name, and the tendency of the 
party now in power in that direction, as shown in various ways, 
besides the willingness recently manifested by a large number of 
that party to elect a President an unlimited number of terms, is 
quite apparent, and must satisfy thinking people that the time 
has come when it will be safest and best for that party to be re- 
tired. But in resisting the encroachments of the general govern- 
ment upon the reserved rights of the people and the States, I 
wish to be distinctly understood as favoring the proper exercise 
by the general government of the powers rightfully belonging to 
it under the constitution. Encroachments upon the constitu- 
tional rights of the general government or interference with the 
proper exercise of its powers must be carfully avoided. The 
union of the States under the constitution must be maintained, 
and it is well known that this has always been the position of 



168 Appendix. 

both the candidates on the Democratic Presidential ticket. It is 
acquiesced in everywhere now, and finally and forever settled as 
one of the results of the war. It is certain beyond all question 
that the legitimate results of the war for the Union will not be 
overthrown or impaired should the Democratic ticket be elected. 
In that event proper protection will be given in every legitimate 
way to every citizen, native or adopted, in every section of the 
Republic, in the enjoyment of all the rights guaranteed by the 
constitution and its amendments : a sound currency, of honest 
money, of a value and purchasing power corresponding substan- 
tially with the standard recognized by the commercial world, and 
consisting of gold and silver and paper convertible into coin, will 
be maintained; the labor and manufacturing, commercial and 
business interests of the country will be favored and encouraged 
in every legitimate way. 

The toiling millions of our own people will be protected from 
the destructive competition of the Chinese, and to that end their 
immigration to our. shores will be properly restricted. The public 
credit will be scrupulously maintained and strengthened by rigid 
economy in public expenditure, and the liberties of the people 
and the property of the people will be protected by a government 
of law and order, administered strictly in the interest of all peo- 
ple, and not of corporations and privileged classes. I do not 
doubt the discriminating justice of the people and their capacity 
for intelligent self-government, and, therefore, do not doubt the 
success of the Democratic ticket. Its success would bury beyond 
resurrection the sectional jealousies and hatreds which have so 
long been the chief stock in trade of pestiferous demagogues, and 
in no other way can this be so effectually accomplished. It would 
restore harmony and good feeling between all the sections, and 
make us in fact, as well as in name, one people. The only rivalry 
then would be in the race for the development of material pros- 
perity, the elevation of labor, the enlargement of human rights, 
the promotion of education, morality, religion, liberty, order, and 
all that would tend to make us the foremost nation of the earth 
in the grand march of human progress. 

I am, with great respect, very truly yours, 

WILLIAM H. ENGLISH. 

To the Hon. John W. Stevenson, President of the Convention, the Hon. 
John P. Stockton, Chairman, and other members of the Committee of 
Notification. 



LfB,P ARY 0F CONGRESS 



027 272 254 7 



» 




HHBHhi 



— 

nHHHH 

■HL 



■■ 



m 



. 



m 



mm 









HH 



i 



i 






is 



